The Good of the Whole

Paper Summary:

This paper argues that the hypothetical city of the "Republic" satisfies the definition of justice. First, commonly identified inequalities in the three-tiered society are presented, such as the denial of personal autonomy, family, love and the fulfillment of one's potential. It also shows how, upon more comprehensive analysis, these objections become unpinned by Plato's conception of the project as a whole.

From the Paper:

"Perhaps the most fundamental objection to the City is the entirely undemocratic nature of its construction. The foundation for the division between the citizen and guardian classes lies squarely in the assumption that all people are not created equal. Such an assertion, while superficially apparent in individual variation in everything from artistic skill to physical prowess, denies the value of life in and of itself. This opens the door to the literal expandability of the less-competent members of society, making each person a means to an end and stripped of their value as a rationale being. Instead, each individual is an appendage of the state. If the citizens' personal desires run contrary to those of the City, they are denied the ability to use their will in pursuit of the said ends. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Plato. Plato Complete Works. Ed. John M. Cooper and D.S. Hutchinson. London: Hackett Publishing Company, 1997.

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