Plato's Republic

I am taking a class on western philosophy this term. I was assigned to read Plato’s Republic. I didn’t actually have to read the whole thing, but it still took me four hours. I had to do a précis of my readings. I have included it here along with some extra.

Which is better, justice, or injustice? It is difficult to decide, one must use the analogy of a city. To function well, a city needs people to do a variety of things. These specialized workers need to have someone in power to rule them. These rulers are verified by their ability to hold to their beliefs  and in so doing, we have a city. The first thing to find in our city is wisdom. The city is run by rulers who know what is good, and rule accordingly. Secondly, courage is found in the guardians who are trained to know what to fear and what not to fear. They cannot lose this and will not fear in battle. Thirdly, we must find moderation. This is found again in the ruling powers who know what is good, and implement it on lesser who know only pleasure, but they recognize that what their rulers suggest is good, and obey it willingly. Finally, we must find justice. Justice is easy to find if we know where to look. It is found in the people who do their work that they know and not the work of others that they do not know. What is interesting, is that if a man is being treated justly, he will be unjust to satisfy his cold, hunger, or thirst. But if he is being treated unjustly, he will endure his cold, hunger and thirst so as to be just. Therefore, justice breed injustice while injustice breeds justice. However, once one has experienced justice, he can obey nothing else and wants to bring those in the grips of injustice into justice.

So where does this leave us? Which is better, Justice, or injustice? Plato (or Socrates, we’re not sure) argued (though I didn’t understand the arguments) that justice is better. I disagree. Based off his arguments that I have summed up above, injustice is better. If justice breeds injustice, the presence of justice would be damaging in the long term. If justice reigns, the many will be unjust while the few will be just. On the other side of the coin, if injustice breeds justice, the presence of injustice would be damaging in the short term, but beneficial in the long term. Though the many would suffer, they would learn the meaning of a just life. The few would be unjust, but the many would be just.

Furthermore, those who live in a just world want to relieve those in the unjust world, but cannot and thus feels unfulfilled whereas those living in injustice do not.

So, bring on the tyrannical dictators!

(Before I receive a landslide of hate-mail, please note that this is meant to be ironic. I don’t mean what I’m saying.)