Plato’s Republic, Book II

Analysis of Plato Republic Book ii

ANSWER

Plato’s Republic, Book II

Despite Socrates believing that he had fully responded to Thrasymachus and closed the debate concerning the discussion of equity, Glaucon, Socrates’ counterpart among others, still felt more to be added before giving out a conclusion. This study, based on the book, “Plato’s Republic, Book II” reviews Socrates and his associates’ summary and analysis.

Summary

According to Socrates, goods can be divided into three classes: those desired for their own sake, those desired because of their results – physical training, and those we get to gain from them like knowledge. Most people view justice as a rule that restricts us from doing evil. Glaucon, using the Ring of Gyges, justifies his claims by saying that man reprieves himself of things that benefit him due to fear of punishment. And that without the law, man would give way to all his libidinal urges. Adeimantus, Glaucon’s brother, states that justice is upheld by society only because of the rewards it provides in the long run and that it is prudent for its own sake, like joy and knowledge.

Analysis

Socrates believes equity is good and valued for its cause but not for what it lays out. They use the community as a means of viewing justice through a bigger picture. They claim that men live together because they are interdependent and naturally evil, as asserted by the Gyges ring. Socrates further claims that people can only engage in one activity at a go and major in the specialization. Glaucon sees the very first city as one occupied by pigs because it completely lacked civilization. Gods, on the other, had were naturally good by Socrates. Glaucon concludes by saying that man accepts to govern by one law since it helps them avoid being casualties of injustice at others’ hands.

References

Thaler, N. (2017). Learning to Read the Small Letters in Republic Book 2. apeiron, 50(1), 45-66.