The Republic Book I

Overview

The dialogue opens with a question: what is justice? A friend offers a simple answer: speaking the truth and paying your debts. At the time, most traditional culture came from stories and poems like The Odyssey, so this definition carries weight. But Socrates pushes further. Is justice then speaking the truth and giving things to friends while withholding from enemies? This leads to problems. It would imply that stealing from enemies to give to friends is just. And who counts as a friend? Even if we could distinguish true friends from false ones, we should not have to do evil things to other humans. Justice, Socrates argues, cannot harm anyone.

A new character enters, but not a friend of Socrates. He openly dislikes Socrates and his habit of constantly asking questions without ever providing insight or answers. This character reveals his own view of justice: "the interest of the strongest." The idea resembles the notion that history is written by the victors. Those with power define what is right; they cannot be mistaken. Inherently this is not a terrible idea if powerful leaders work in the best interest of everyone. But this is naive, as Socrates points out. The argument implies that injustice is better than justice, since it is more fruitful to climb the ranks, kill your enemies, and chase power.In the character's opinion, of course. Socrates disagrees. Relying on injustice is bound to bring conflict and danger, which cannot possibly be factors in a good life.