Essay Sample on Justice in States and Souls: Plato's Stance

Introduction

Justice exists in both states and souls. Plato asserts that souls and states can be just as they must have an identical characteristic known as justice. In a just state, justice develops in just laws, relations, and institutions among the state's residents. Neither will the state's legal system discriminate unfairly among the residents nor will some people (wealthy class) enjoy disproportionate power. According to Plato, justice of the state must be in internal relations, whether between an individual and the state or between two people to be understood as a whole (Cornford, 1974). On the other hand, if one understands the state as a soul, then the thought of unity shall be brought. The paper, therefore, is premised on a discussion regarding justice in the state and soul, how justice in each is a condition as well as how is each a condition for the other.

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Justice in the State

Plato defines justice as "to do your business and not to become a busybody" (Cornford, 1974), where justice is made up of fulfilling a person's proper role or realizing the potential of an individual while not overstepping it by doing the opposite of the person's nature. According to Plato, the action applies to both the soul and the state. In a just state, each individual and each class has a particular set of duties and obligations to the society, which, if they are fulfilled by everyone, then it will lead to a peaceful whole (Cornford, 1974). When one does his tasks perfectly, and in time, he should receive the remuneration and credit he deserves, and if he fails to do his work, he should be punished appropriately. Justice in the state refers to "the doing and having of what belongs to oneself" (Cornford, 1974). Deficiency and excess of any kind are considered to be unjust. For instance, a thief might be said to be unjust as he wants to have what does not rightfully belong to him. A doctor who fails or does not care about treating their patients is also unfair as he is disregarding his work.

According to Plato, unjust people either fail to realize their duties or virtues proper to their life situation or treat a person in the worst way than he deserves. The roles of a state include making the conditions possible and favorable for every individual where they can shelter, clothe, and feed themselves while seeking the good (Cornford, 1974). Plato's conviction informs his conception of justice that everything provided by nature is hierarchical and that the same nature is ideally a cosmic symphony and vast peace for every individual or species serving a purpose. In the vision, the supreme vice is anarchy, which is the most unjust and unnatural state of affairs. Just like nature, a just state is hierarchical, where the aptitude of a person ranks them and definitively placed them in the social hierarchy (Cornford, 1974).

Justice in the Soul

The soul of a person is always hierarchical, where the appetitive part is said to be inferior to the spirited part. However, each section has a function. An individual should be governed by reason, but the appetite must be heeded too to make the soul peaceful. If every soul's aspect is accomplished fittingly or perfectly, the result is always an ordered and moderate state of affairs (Cornford, 1974). A virtuous person always has a well-ordered soul such that he knows the definition of arts and justice to his knowledge. Moreover, the person must know his place in the state, his aptitude, and practice them. He adheres to the reason's dictates doing every task in moderation. Thus, according to Plato, justice in the soul refers to fulfilling what the mind, body, and spirit want (Cornford, 1974).

For instance, a philosopher might be an ideal person, since his wisdom makes his soul be in complete peace with itself. The rational faculty of the philosopher governs his appetites and passions, not allowing him free rein but always respecting his claims and indulging him when expedient. He knows the society and himself, the definition of being a virtuous person has a specific amount of equanimity and does not lose control over himself (Cornford, 1974). When all these actions are accomplished, then there is justice in the soul.

Conditions of Justice in State and Soul

Justice in the state and soul are analogous were to speak; the state is the soul writ large. The state's divisions are the same as the soul's division, as both of them must satisfy an individual to do good. According to Plato, a state has three primary parts which correspond to the parts of the soul. The producers, who are the lowest class in the state, the auxiliaries who are like soldiers who defend the state and the guardians, who are the philosophers governing the state. The assistants and guardians have the same education, while the producers are censored for educational purposes (Cornford, 1974).

According to Plato, "everyone must practice one of the many activities regarding civil life to make the state function and life proceed perfectly." On the other hand, the soul is also divided into three classes. The acquisitive and productive part, which is the lowest class whose virtue is in specific temperance, the warlike, competitive, and spirited part, whose virtue is courage and the ruling or ruler's part, whose virtue is practical wisdom (Cornford, 1974). Therefore, for justice to prevail in the soul and state, guardians must have wisdom, auxiliaries must possess courage, and the producers must have temperance and abstain from bad actions that might affect both the state and the soul.

Reference

Cornford, F. M. (Ed.). (1974). The republic of Plato. Oxford University Press.