PLATO'S THEORY OF JUSTICE

PLATO'S THEORY OF JUSTICE

Plato was not happy with the existing democratic regime in Athens, thus his ultimate aim was to establish an Ideal State. And Justice is an inevitable part of the Ideal State. Justice is the foundation of the Ideal State.
• The idea of justice has been the core concern of the political philosophy from Plato to Marx, Marx to Rawls, and from Rawls to Amartya Sen.
• Plato has also discussed the idea of justice in depth. The subtitle of his book is "concerning justice".
• The opening pages of the Republic book written by Plato, describes justice is the greatest good that people can attain as individuals and as members of a larger political community.
• Before discussing Plato's theory of Justice let us discuss the prevalent theories of Justice which was existing in then Athens.

1. Traditional Theory of Justice. - Cephalus and Polemarchus were the exponents of this.

According to Cephalus Justice is nothing but doing one's Duty and telling truth as well as paying one's Debt. Polemarchus (Cephalus's son): he suggests that justice is giving every man his due, which he takes to mean harming your enemies as well as helping your friends. Justice means being good to your friend and evil to your enemy

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2. Radical theory of Justice: - Thrasymachus represents this notion. According to him, the concept of justice does not exist at all, it is all about the interest of the stronger i.e. Might is Right. 

 3. Pragmatic theory or contractual Theory:- Glaucon represents this Notion, justice is the interest of the weak. According to him, those who were weak who could not protect themselves on their own came together and form the state. Hence, the state is for the protection of the weak.

4. Plato's Theory of Justice:- for Plato, Justice simply means working according to the natural traits. To explain his theory of Justice, he tells about the "Theory of Souls". Universe has two parts -

a. Physical or material world

b. Spiritual world Human beings are also part of the universe.

Human beings also have two aspects – physical and spiritual Every person has a soul, every soul has three elements -

1) Reason
2) Courage
3) Appetite

Natural Desire Every soul is not the same, some are superior souls and some are inferior souls. He creates the myth of metals.

He classifies people into three categories on the basis of qualities of soul:

1.  Persons in whom reason dominates he called them men of gold, they belong to the ruling class and they Possess Wisdom.
2.  Persons in whom courage dominate is men of silver, they belong to the soldier or warrior class and possess courage.
3.  Person in whom appetite dominate is men of copper, they belong to producing class and possess temperance.

Further, Plato's idea of justice had two aspects:

A) . Justice for Individual: Plato argues that justice prevails at the level of the individual, when everyone functions according to their natural dominating traits, and should not interfere with other's functions

• In other words, individuals with reason should rule, individuals with spirit should protect and become soldiers, and individuals with desire should produce and become peasants, artisans or traders.

B). Justice for Society: According to Plato, Justice at the level of society is inherent in justice for individuals.

 • In other words, if all the persons with reason are part of the ruling class, if all the persons with spirit are part of the warrior class, and if all with desires are part of producing class. And every class is performing their specific duties, without interfering in the functions of other classes, then it is justice for society.

• In other words, Justice will result in Society, and ultimately, an ideal society give rise to Ideal State. Thus, for Plato, State is Nothing but the individual writ large.
 • "In Plato's perfect state, the industrial forces would produce but not rule, the military forces will protect but not rule, the forces of knowledge and science and philosophy would be nourished and protected and they would rule" Will Durant, The story of Philosophy.
 • Sabine: Justice is a bond that holds society together.

Criticism

 Plato's justice is based on the principle of 'one man one job'. It makes one's life monotonous and deprives the individual of all-around development.
• Plato separatës the individual into three classes: men of iron, men of silver and men of gold. This separation is based on the different elements of the soul- appetite, spirit, and reason. It is illogical to assume that an individual has only one element of soul. It appears that an average human being has all these elements in him.
 • Power in the hand of one class; result in abuse of power. Plato's theory of Justice, emphasis more on duty rather than rights.
• Economic power in the hand of one class would lead to the concentration of Property, which is against the notion of Natural Rights.

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