Plato’s Idea of Universal Justice

PLATO’S IDEA OF UNIVERSAL JUSTICE

WHO IS PLATO?

JUSTICE?

“Justice itself is not the exclusive responsibility of any one class of citizens, but

emerges from the harmonious interrelationship of each

component of the society with every other.”

PLATO’S UNIVERSAL JUSTICE

PLATO’S IDEA OF JUSTICE

“Justice is Harmony.” (book 4, 434c of The Republic)

“Justice is Doing one’s own job.”

(book 4, 443b of The Republic)

PLATO’S IDEA OF UNIVERSAL JUSTICE Plato offers two main analogies to

examine the definition of justice.

SOUL

STATE

SOUL

Rational Soul (Thinki

ng)WisdomSpirited

Soul (Willing)

CourageAppetitive

Soul (Feeling)

Moderation

HIERARCHY OF SOUL

Rational Soul (Thinking) Wisdom

Spirited Soul (Willingness)

Courage

Appetitive Soul (Feeling)Moderation

STATE

RulersWise Decisions

SoldiersCourageous

Actions

Farmers, Merchants, and

other People(Moderated

Desires)

WORKER

Moderation

SOLDIER

COURAGE

RULERS

WISDOM

HIERARCHY OF STATE

RulersWise Decisions

SoldiersCourageous

ActionsFarmers, Merchants,

and other People(Moderated Desires)

PLATO’S CONCEPT OF STATE AND SOUL

Wisdom

Courage

Moderation