BCS Great Books Conversation discussion

The Republic
This topic is about The Republic
7 views
Year 1 Second Reading > Is Socrates on the right track when he looks for a definition of justice? Would his purpose be better served by giving him examples of just men and just actions?

Comments Showing 1-1 of 1 (1 new)    post a comment »
dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Sarah (new) - added it

Sarah | 17 comments Mod
I think this is a very challenging question. I think that mankind innately has a sense of justice, just like mankind has an innate sense of right and wrong. At issue is whether all individual persons would agree to any one definition of the word, "justice". I think that there is such a thing as absolute truth and a definition of absolute justice would exist in relationship to that absolute truth, but I personally am confident that, like Socrates, I could not come up with a single definition of justice that all individual persons would agree is completely correct. I am sure that there are many good definitions of justice out there. That's why the question suggests we look for examples that all or most persons could agree reflect justice. And yet, if no person can come up with an absolutely correct and universal definition without using examples, how can I be sure that an absolute definition of justice exists? This then comes back around to my faith... my Christian faith gives me answers to this question that I am sure not all persons agree with.
I think that for purposes of conversation, it is much easier to discuss whether examples of people or states are just than to discuss whether a dictionary-like definition of the word is accurate. I think there are many examples of justice and injustice that could be discussed... but then through such discussion it seems you only dance around a definition.


back to top