A Just Individual has Become One Person Instead of Many (Essay Sample)

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A Just Individual has Become One Person Instead of Many
Socrates in the Republic is developing an argument that seeks to correlate justice with happiness. Socrates in the exploration of this correlation (through oral interaction with others) defines justice both in the context of a community political organization and that of a soul (individual). As different suggestions are given, each proposal falls short of elementary nature of justice the subject keeps expanding. Platonic dialogue demystifies justice as giving what is owed or due.  Whatever is owed is appropriate to the people in question as the case of friends, sailors and enemies. A just man in his capacity and activities can do justice in a time of war in alliances and fighting. In a time of peace, a just man engages in meaningful partnerships.
The discussion in the Republic is an attempt to explore the nature of justice but every possible definition despite a sensible argument, Cephalus argues that just being truthful and returning whatever is owed by the question; would you return a borrowed weapon to a mad friend? Justice eludes abstract definition as the talk goes on a sense of ambiguity. The length engagement led to the division of human personality into the souls; the spirited soul, the appetitive soul and the rationale for a man to be just, the three souls should harmoniously work for the good of the person as a whole hence the secrets just individual has become one person instead of many. The separate souls should harmoniously work purposely for one whole person. Justice will have been done if, in the end, the actor is in harmony with himself or herself. Injustice causes internal disharmony and only justice results to peace and happiness.
Traits of a Philosopher According to Socrates
By dividing the world into money lovers, honor lovers, illuminates, and philosophers Socrates further praises philosophers as those who are in harmony with themselves. The man consists of three souls, and the three parts should harmoniously work to serve the purposes of the whole person. All other categories except philosophers are dominated by one or two souls most commonly opposing each other. Of the three types, philosophers will stand out and do not have an insane drive for honor or power. They may rule if they refuse to be led by an inferior person. Philosophers respect other people but are not too possessive as possession is a result of appetite spirit that can be the appetite for other people or just things(558d-559c, 571a-572b)
Philosophers are knowledgeable. They pursue knowledge, and they want to understand matters that touch on their very existence (558d-559c, 571a-572b). And because they are knowledgeable of the good, they can link psychological good and just actions. A philosopher has a rational although sometimes relative few of social psychological matters. As a matter of fact, a philosopher was identified by how he would answer questions like "what is beauty?" A non-philosopher will identify the non-sensible property as a philosopher will determine the sensible property.
A philosopher examines himself more than he does learn about others. Socrates despite being ironic and idiomatic in his talks, what he thinks to be the traits of a philosopher can be deduced.  A philosopher is just, a just person is happy, and a philosopher is, therefore, a generally happy person. A philosopher is moral and virtuous. His words and actions are rational and aimed at their effect on others and moral code of conduct. He thinks beyond the law and does not just act according to the law but by his view of things which are inevitably consistent with the law.
The Sun and the Good
The analogy of the sun comes to the conversation between Socrates and Glaucon. They are talking about the definition of goodness and Socrates cautiously alleges he couldn't define goodness. Socrates draws a simile and decides that it is better they speak of the child of goodness. In Socrates analogy, the child of goodness is the sun itself. When it rises, it defeats the darkness and the cold of the night. No one can help but notice its elegance of its light illuminating the entire world. The sun gives light to see and it to be seen as well. Goodness as well cannot be missed but noticed even by the most ignorant.
The most striking similarity between the good and the sun is that both illuminate the life of others and that both are outstanding and noticeable. Light stands in the realm of the things we see and the right stand in the things we know. Both the sun and the good demystify matters in their particular realms. When goodness lights an object of the mind, it is understood better than when the same object rots and decays. "Goodness stands in the intelligible of the things known to us intelligence and the sun stands in the visible realm. Socrates likens the sight without light to mind without goodness. One cannot optimally function without the other.
The good which in his dialogue Socrates likens to the sun is the very base upon which other truths are founded. Without insight are all darkness and decay. The good, just as the sun shines on the world, sheds the light of knowledge so we can see the reality. Where good is not there, we will only see with the physical eyes and no truth shall be understood; all we will perceive is untrue, and our minds remain in darkness unable to see realities around us. The goodness is the source of this light, and the sun is the source of light which this analogy is based.
Socrates Allegory of the Cave
In the Republic, Socrates insists on the importance of the cave allegory and extensively talks about shedding light to its implication to education. Socrates stand on political matters can also be deduced by this analogy. Socrates asks Glaucon to imagine where prisoners who have been there since childhood are kept. These prisoners are immobilized by the chains that bind their legs and hands so that their chicks are between their legs. They can only look at the world in front of them. Fire is lighting at the back of prisoners, and they can see images at the wall of people passing behind them with daily items. The images appear real to the prisoners.
Education that is proper should enlighten the student. The student will start to notice the realities around him just like when one of the prisoners is released and asked to look towards the fire. If a prisoner is released, he will quickly realize that the images he has been looking at are not real. Ignorance is like living in the above-described prison where only unreal things and events are seen. Education will enlighten the learner, and the resultant person will be able to perceive the w...