Plato's Republic
The Republic by Plato is considered a classic. A classic in the sense that it has withstood the test of time and is still studied today by people all over the world. It describes the human search for justice while also exploring philosophical clarity. Plato wrote this book about his teacher, Socrates, who was the first philosopher of western thought and believed that there was a rational explanation for all occurances on earth rather than just a religious meaning. His search for logical explanations for all occurances led him to be sought out in his community to have discussions about life and man. The Republic recounts discussions Socrates had with his contemporaries about the meaning of justice. The first of these men was a rich, older man by the name of Cephalus. He believed that justice meant speaking the truth at all times and always paying back one's debts. Cephalus said that a just man should return whatever is owed to another without hesitation or concern and to always tell the truth no matter the consequences. This caused Socrates much confusion and, using his dialetic method, he prodded deeper into to Cephalus's meaning to try to come up with some truth. Socrates said that being just is not as easy as just tel
He said that people everywhere know this and abide by the fact that what the government says is law and must be obeyed. It does, however, confuse me in the amount of detail and depth of meanings they speak of. Each ruling will have a different affect on individuals at different times and places. Some may say that The Republic is a book of how to learn about one self and soul. A friend is somone is who seems good or good at heart is a friend while someone who seems good but isn't is not a friend. He asked what constitutes a friend or enemy. I believe that being just is an internal matter that each individual must deal with themselves. I do not agree that always telling the truth and paying one's debts is a way to be just. The just man becomes unjust by harming his enemies. Socrates had brought Polemarchus's to believe that anyone who claims to be just would not harm friends or anyone else. These actions could be considered just or unjust depending on the circumstances. If someone had borrowed his friend's whiskey and his friend, who is a recovering alcoholic, asked for it back, would it be the just thing to do to return it knowing his friend has a drinking problem or to keep it in order to help him out? That is the kind of question that Socrates posed to Cephalus to which he agreed and left the argument to his son, Polemarchus. Also, what benefits or harms one subject may not do the same to another so the rulings are all relative. Socrates also didn't seem to agree with these explanations so he asked questions to get to the heart of what Polemarchus was trying to say.
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Acceptance Essays
