Justice has been a topic of discussion for centuries, and one of the most notable philosophers to tackle this subject was Socrates.
In his works, he provides various definitions of justice, each with its own unique perspective. From the idea of doing one’s own business to the concept of a just city, Socrates’ definition of justice is complex and thought-provoking.
In this article, we will explore Socrates’ definition of justice and how it relates to our modern-day understanding of this fundamental concept.
So, let’s dive in and discover what Socrates had to say about justice.
What Is Socrates Definition Of Justice
Socrates believed that justice was about doing what one is naturally best suited for and not interfering with anyone else’s business. He argued that justice sustains and perfects other virtues such as temperance, wisdom, and courage.
Socrates also provided different definitions of justice through the characters in his works. For instance, one character defined justice as repaying one’s creditors, while another defined it as helping friends and harming rivals. However, Socrates challenged these definitions, arguing that they were flawed and did not capture the essence of justice.
Socrates believed that there were two types of justice: political justice and the justice of a particular person. He argued that it was easier to find justice at the political level, which means in the city. Therefore, he tried to define a just city from scratch and see at which stage justice enters.
Socrates also emphasized the principle of specialization, which states that each individual must perform the role they are suited for and not interfere with anyone else’s business. Specialization also means the division of labor in appropriate ways.
According to Socrates, a just city should be neither too wealthy nor too poor since these conditions cause social strife. The city should be only as large as would permit it to be unified and stable. The guardians in the just city should possess wives and children in common, and there should be limited ways by which innovations may be introduced to education or change in laws.
Socrates believed that justice consists of each class performing its proper function. He then proceeded to find the corresponding four virtues in an individual: wisdom, courage, moderation, and justice.
Socrates argued that one is just when each of the three parts of their soul performs its function. Justice is a natural balance of the soul’s parts, while injustice is an imbalance of the parts of the soul.
Socrates’ Early Definition Of Justice
Socrates’ early definition of justice was based on the idea that each individual should do what they are naturally best suited for and not interfere with anyone else’s business. He believed that justice sustains and perfects other virtues such as temperance, wisdom, and courage.
Socrates also challenged the different definitions of justice provided by the characters in his works. He argued that these definitions were flawed and did not capture the essence of justice. Instead, he believed that there were two types of justice: political justice and the justice of a particular person.
Socrates emphasized the principle of specialization, which means that each individual must perform the role they are suited for and not interfere with anyone else’s business. He believed that this principle leads to the division of labor in appropriate ways.
Socrates’ early definition of justice also included the idea that a just city should be neither too wealthy nor too poor. He believed that these conditions cause social strife, and a just city should be only as large as would permit it to be unified and stable. The guardians in the just city should possess wives and children in common, and there should be limited ways by which innovations may be introduced to education or change in laws.
Justice As Doing One’s Own Business
Socrates believed that one aspect of justice was doing one’s own business and not interfering with anyone else’s. He argued that this principle of specialization was crucial for a just society to function properly. Each individual must perform the role they are naturally suited for, and there should be a division of labor in appropriate ways.
Socrates believed that this principle of specialization also applied to the individual. Each person should perform the function they are best suited for, and not try to meddle in other people’s affairs. Doing one’s own business is a way of achieving balance in the soul, which is a necessary condition for justice.
Socrates believed that justice was not just about avoiding harm to others, but also about doing good. Doing good meant performing one’s proper function and contributing to the well-being of society as a whole. Therefore, justice was not just an individual virtue but also a social virtue.
Socrates argued that justice was not just a matter of following laws or rules, but also about understanding the nature of things. Justice required knowledge and wisdom to discern what was right and wrong in any given situation. Therefore, justice was not just a matter of following conventions or traditions, but also about using reason and critical thinking to make ethical decisions.
The Concept Of A Just City
Socrates believed that a just city is one in which each individual performs the role they are naturally best suited for and does not interfere with anyone else’s business. He argued that the city should be organized in a way that allows those who are best able to rule to be the rulers, those who are best able to assist the rulers by enforcing the rules to be the auxiliaries, and those who are best able to produce services and material goods to be the workers who produce them.
Socrates emphasized the importance of specialization and division of labor in appropriate ways. He believed that a just city should not be too wealthy or too poor since these conditions cause social strife. The city should also be only as large as would permit it to be unified and stable.
The guardians in the just city should possess wives and children in common, and there should be limited ways by which innovations may be introduced to education or change in laws. Socrates believed that justice consists of each class performing its proper function, which results in a natural balance of the city’s parts.
Socrates argued that a just city is virtuous and wise, courageous, moderate, and just. The wisdom of the just city is found in its rulers, while the courage of the just city is found in its military. The city’s moderation or self-discipline is its unanimity in following the just city’s structure in terms of who should rule and who should be ruled.
The Relationship Between Justice And Virtue
Socrates believed that justice and virtue were closely related concepts. He argued that justice was the cause and condition of other virtues such as temperance, wisdom, and courage. In other words, justice sustains and perfects these virtues.
Socrates believed that a just person was one who performed their own role in society and did not interfere with anyone else’s business. This idea of specialization was not only important for a just city but also for an individual’s soul. Socrates argued that each part of the soul should perform its function, and this would result in a natural balance of the soul’s parts.
Therefore, Socrates believed that justice was not just a virtue to be exhibited by society but also the ideal state of one’s soul. He believed that one could only achieve this ideal state by understanding the nature of justice and living accordingly. This understanding involved knowledge of definitions, which was necessary for moral behavior.
Socrates’ Critique Of Traditional Views Of Justice
Socrates was highly critical of traditional views of justice that were prevalent in his time. He believed that the definitions provided by Cephalus and Polemarchus were incomplete and did not capture the essence of justice.
Cephalus defined justice as repaying one’s debts and being truthful. However, Socrates challenged this definition by arguing that it was not always just to repay one’s debts, especially if the creditor was not in a sound state of mind. Moreover, he believed that being truthful did not necessarily equate to being just.
Polemarchus defined justice as helping friends and harming rivals. However, Socrates pointed out that this definition had several flaws. For instance, it was not always clear who one’s friends and enemies were, and treating someone well or badly based on an assumption could not be considered just.
Socrates argued that justice was more than just following the law or repaying debts. He believed that it was about doing what one was naturally suited for and not interfering with anyone else’s business. He emphasized the principle of specialization and believed that each individual should perform the role they were best suited for.
Socrates’ Influence On Modern Conceptions Of Justice
Socrates’ ideas about justice have had a significant influence on modern conceptions of justice. His emphasis on the principle of specialization and the division of labor has been adopted in many modern societies. The idea that each individual should perform the role they are suited for and not interfere with anyone else’s business has been implemented in various fields, such as medicine, law, and education.
Socrates’ concept of a just city has also influenced modern political theory. His belief that a just city should be neither too wealthy nor too poor and should only be as large as necessary for stability has been echoed in contemporary debates about economic inequality and the appropriate size of government.
Moreover, Socrates’ understanding of justice as a natural balance of the soul’s parts has influenced modern approaches to criminal justice. The idea that justice requires an inner harmony and balance has led to a focus on rehabilitation and restorative justice rather than solely punitive measures.
Overall, Socrates’ ideas about justice continue to inspire contemporary thinkers and shape modern conceptions of justice.
