Plato\'s Republic, Book 2

¶ … Plato's Republic

In ancient Greece, there were a number of ideas that were considered to be some of the most desirable attributes in society. In Plato's Republic these ideas are taken in different directions with a critical inward look at humanity and what characteristics need to be embraced. One of the better areas where this is discussed is through Glaucon's arguments about justice. To fully understand these ideas requires explaining one of his claims in contrast with these views. This will offer the greatest insights as to what were the most common ideas in Greek society.

Glaucon's Argument

Glaucon believes that all good is divided from one of three classes to include: what is desired for only the consequences, things that are desired for self-interests and what is desired for self-interests along with the benefits received. The focus of this discussion will be on what is desired for self-interests and the benefits received. ("Plato, 2008)

Explain Glaucon's Point in this part of the Argument

When someone is searching for true fulfillment out of life, they will often focus on certain areas. In this part of Glaucon's argument, he believes that understanding what someone wants out of life is based upon their own self-interest. For example, one possible area that would be focused on includes the desire to have higher amounts of knowledge. The benefits that someone would gain from this are a sense of awareness of the world around them. This achieves their self-interest by making them wiser and more understanding. While at the same time, it is helping to improve the person's mental / physical health and foresight to understand what is occurring. This is when someone will have enlightenment of what is happening. ("Plato, 2008)

He then ties this argument in with justice by stating that it is a social contract between the people in society. To emphasize this point, Glaucon discusses the Gyges. This is an imaginary tool that will allow an individual to do whatever they want. Glaucon believes that with this kind of power is when the most just man would engage in evil acts. To prevent this, is the balance that exists within society itself. The fear of punishment is what is keeping these actions in check. Glaucon ends his speech by saying how people are unjust and they feel that it is socially reasonable to be this way. ("Plato, 2008)

To illustrate this, he will use the Gyges to show how justice is based upon this balance that exists. Evidence of this can be seen with the passage which states, "No man would keep his hands off what was not his own when he could safely take what he liked out of the market, or go into houses and lie with any one at his pleasure, or kill or release from prison whom he would, and in all respects be like a God among men. Then the actions of the just would be as the actions of the unjust; they would both come at last to the same point. And this we may truly affirm to be a great proof that a man is just, not willingly or because he thinks that justice is any good to him individually, but of necessity, for wherever anyone thinks that he can safely be unjust, there he is unjust. For all men believe in their hearts that injustice is far more profitable to the individual than justice, and he who argues as I have been supposing, will say that they are right. If you could imagine any one obtaining this power of becoming invisible, and never doing any wrong or touching what was another's, he would be thought by the lookers-on to be a most wretched idiot, although they would praise him to one another's faces, and keep up appearances with one another from a fear that they too might suffer injustice." ("Plato, 2008)

In this passage Glaucon is claiming that all of mankind is striving to be something more based upon how they want to have a higher level of thinking. This is when someone will have a greater sense of satisfaction (i.e. health, knowledge and sight) to feel more intellectually advanced. When this happens, the individual will have a sense of pleasure in knowing that this area of their lives is being fulfilled (which is bringing them long-term benefits). At the heart of this argument is justice, this is when humankind feels a sense of fairness about what is taking place and the impact that it is having on everyone.