plato

plato

Plato claims that justice is found in the heart and soul of individuals and is portrayed by the pleasant and harmonious relationship between individuals in the state. No individual is capable of being self-sufficient hence our dependency on each other.   Socrates describes the true and healthy constitution of the State as being a society of people enjoying mutually dependant and harmonious relationships, living peacefully within their means because their wants (the necessities of life such as food, shelter and clothing) are being met.
Plato also compares the human soul with the three classes of individuals in the state. A person is said to be just when each part of the soul performs their job working for the good of the individual. When an individual reaches that position of inner peace and happiness that the society is truly transformed into a wholesome state.
However when there is a shift in focus from balancing the interests of the common good to the pursuit of personal wealth, the desire of the unjust to have luxuries beyond the necessaries leads to avarice which destroys the harmonious balance of the society. This is consistent with Glaucon’s argument on pg. 3 that all men believe that injustice is far more profitable than justice, and that a person will be unjust if he thinks he can get away with it; a man would steal, commit adultery and murder while maintaining the outward appearance of a just man.   On pg. 13, Socrates says that war is caused by the same sources of evil in the State.   Greed breeds dissention which leads to conflicts between neighbours, and eventually war against invaders.   It therefore becomes necessary to build a military force to defend against such incursions.   Justice is now more about protecting the society’s ability to amass material wealth.
Plato was also eluding to the development of a value system for (and possibly by) the people of that state. Once a value system is established, the notion of justice within that State...