On the one hand, the aristocratic soul, corresponding to the ideal city, is ruled by reason. Socrates’ first argument consists of a straightforward comparison of the lives of the aristocratic and tyrannical character types to determine which is happier. This essay concludes our discussion of the Republic by elucidating Plato’s closing arguments for the contention that justice is an intrinsic, rather than extrinsic, good.Īfter setting forth a taxonomy of constitutions and the types of individuals that correspond to them, Plato is now in a position to return to the central question of the Republic: Is justice an intrinsic good, or is it valued only for its extrinsic effects? Is the mere possession of justice sufficient for human happiness? And does the mere fact that a man is unjust suffice to make him miserable? Plato answers these questions in the affirmative, articulating three arguments for the contention that justice is an intrinsic good.
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