Machiavelli and Plato
Uploaded by lanester901 on Oct 26, 2011
This paper considers some of the opinions of these men, as given in The Prince and The Republic. (13 pages; 2 sources; MLA citation style)
I Introduction
We can learn a lot about our world from those who have gone before, even if they are removed from us by hundreds, even thousands, of years. Two such authors are Plato and Niccolo Machiavelli, whose ideas about government, justice and freedom are still relevant today.
This paper answers some questions about both men and their beliefs and observations.
II Question 1: Definitions of Justice
The wealthy Cephalus begins the discussion of justice by saying that because he is rich, he has never deceived or defrauded others, and that when he dies he knows what he owes to both gods and men, which gives him great peace of mind.
Socrates says, then justice is paying your debts and speaking the truth? But aren’t there times when one shouldn’t speak the truth? Cephalus’ son Polemarchus speaks up, agreeing with Socrates. At that point Cephalus leaves, saying Polemarchus will take up the argument.
Socrates doesn’t say what he thinks justice is; instead he lets Polemarchus speak. The latter quotes Simonides as saying that a repayment of a debt is just, and he agrees with that. But Socrates then leads Polemarchus through a series of questions and answers (we now call it the Socratic method) that ends up with Polemarchus totally confused and having to take back what he said.
At that point Thrasymachus, who can’t stand it any longer, interrupts and castigates Socrates for not answering directly but taking others’ arguments to bits instead. Then he says that justice is simply the interest of the stronger. Socrates demolishes him as well, taking him through the same type of questioning as he’d done with Polemarchus, until Thrasymachus admits that justice is a matter of the strong looking out for the interest of the weak; the opposite of his original meaning.
Thrasymachus tries again and again Socrates demolishes him, concluding that justice is good and virtue and injustice is evil and vice. Thrasymachus retires and Socrates thinks it’s over, only to have Glaucon challenge him by saying that he thinks men are just only because they are forced, not because they want to do right. Adeimantus also chimes in, saying that men who only appear to be just gain the same respect as...