UAC: MODULE NAME
: PHILOSOPHY.
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MODULE CODE: 5N356.
SUBMISSION DATE: 6/11/213
GLAUCONS CHALLENGE TO SORATES IN THE REPUBLIC.
Bernice [pic]
GLAUCONS CHALLENGE TO SORATES.
IN PLATO’S REPUBLIC.
Is a man inherently good? Alternatively, is he only good for what he can gain?
If there were, no laws would man still act justly? These are questions as relevant now as they were back in 399 BC. When Socrates roamed the market place looking for someone to engage in conversation he was never short of a challenge or two.
While returning home from a religious festival, Socrates and Glaucons, Plato’s brother meet up with a few others and start a discussion on the merits of old age which soon leads into the subject of justice.Glaucon plays devils advocate and challenges Socrates to define justice and also to show, why acting justly should be thought to be in any one’s interest? He argues that self-interest is what motivates man. He only ever acts just because he is afraid of the consequences if they were caught disobeying the law. Therefore, a social contract was drawn up making sure they would not harm each other. There was unrest in Athens at this time; the people were power hungry, self-absorbed subjects who were listening to a new class called the sophists. Since not having any moral or ethic code himself or herself, they assisted anyone in trouble challenging the case in court. They took payment for it. They were accused of corrupting the youths of Athens; it was every man for himself Socrates was an eccentric philosopher and a cult figure among the youth in Athens; he opposed the view of the sophists. He challenged the young, believing man could lead a good life, the unexamined life is not worth living, was a mantra of his.
Therefore, you believe it is better to live a just life rather than an unjust life. Is that correct, Socrates? It is .well I put it to you ,an unjust man lives a much better life than the just...