Justice in Plato's Republic: The Lessons of Book 1

FAIN: FT-269538-20

Roslyn E. Weiss
Lehigh University (Bethlehem, PA 18015-3027)

Research and writing two chapters for a book about a new interpretation of Plato’s definition of justice in The Republic.

Although Socrates offers a novel definition of justice in Book 4 of Plato's Republic, it is argued that the place to learn what justice really means for Socrates in The Republic is Book 1. It is here that, through a series of conversations, Socrates teaches that conventional rules of justice, though important, are to be set aside if they lead to harmful consequences; that justice harms no one, neither friend nor foe; that justice cares for others and, in particular, for the weaker; and that the function of just government is first and foremost to encourage virtue in its citizens.

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