Socrates' conception of justice and the philosopher in Plato's Republic

Plato, the Republic by Francis MacDonald Cornfield. Answer each question fully explaining the answer.

What is Socrates explanation of the nature of justice in individuals?

Socrates determines through much discussion that the nature of justice in the individual is associated with a balance of the natural state of harmony in the individual. The individual therefore determines his or her ideal of justice by being true to his or her most suitable practice. For Socrates, justice in the individual is harmony among the three principles of the soul, (reason, appetite, and spirit) achieved by rationality, or reason the wisest faculty. Justice in individuals is analogous to the justice of a society as justice is achieved only when those more capable and educated to lead are leading as an aspect of their most suitable practice, when those elements are in place in a society then the society is just and Socrates would say that the individuals within it are also just.

4. How does Socrates apply the Allegory of the Cave to politics?

The Allegory of the Cave as applied to politics by Socrates relates to the development of guardians, who with the proper education can and will become the just and true rulers of society. The Cave allegory itself is Socrates description of the way we actually see things, as if illuminated by a small fire that allows only the shadows of reality to be illuminated upon them, thus if one were only able to see those shadows he would believe them to be the truth, and to become a whole person a member of the Good or a guardian one must not only see those shadows but must be lead above to learn that the sun shines down and shows reality as it truly is. The guardian then after years of education and traveling from within the cave to above within the light and educated with a desire to learn and a desire to serve can become a just and true ruler.

5. According to Socrates, what is the state of mind of a despotic person?

According to Socrates the just man is one who is in harmony with his nature and is a guardian, while a despotic man is one who has removed himself from the light of knowledge and wisdom and is in fact rather mad in his skewed understandings of the world around him. The state of mind of the despotic person is the opposite of the Good and just person, he sees the world only through the illumination of shadows in darkness and accepts this view as true. The mind of the despot is out of balance with his true nature and most suitable practice for him or herself. Additionally the despot lacks the ability to balance the three aspects of the soul reason, appetite, and spirit, allowing those that self-serve more effectively to guide his or her reason and decision making as well as his behavior.