The Theory of Justice

 "Justice is having and doing what is one's own." - Plato

Plato was an Athenian Greek philosopher born in 427 BC who witnessed the immense disturbance of Greek society his entire life.

Before Plato came up with his theory, there were already a few theories on justice that he greatly disagreed with. 

• The traditional theory was advocated by Cephalus and Polemarchus said "Justice is speaking the truth and doing good to friends and harm to enemies". Plato rejected the traditional theory on the basis that true justice includes the idea of a social whole through which this service could be obtained. 

• The radical theory was advocated by Thrasymachus, he was one of the representatives of the radical office at the time who didn't believe in moral obligation. He viewed justice as might is right. Plato rejected this theory as well that justice cannot be in the interest of the rulers, instead, it should raise social harmony. 

• Another theory was the Pragmatic theory, advocated by Glaucon. His theory was the polar opposite of Thrasymachus as he treated justice as the weapon of the week. Plato never treated justice as a weapon but instead as a virtue so this theory was rejected as well.

Through his famous work 'Republic', Plato expanded his theory of justice. Being inspired by his teacher Socrates, he was in search of the nature and habitation of justice as a universal principle of life and conduct. Plato's justice parallelly referred to both individuals and the states. The Greek word for justice is "dikaiosynē" (δικαιοσύνη) which is closer in meaning to the English word morality as it refers to the disposition to do the right thing. Plato's justice is different from ours. He saw justice as the unity of state and individual and strongly promoted justice as a virtue.

Justice for individuals

Justice for individuals consists of three basic attributes that being reason, spirit and appetite. Justice is ensured when each individual is capable of keeping these attributes under proper bounds. It is both a public and private virtue because it conserves the highest good of society as well as the individual.

Justice for the state

Justice of the state also consists of three basic attributes: reason, spirit and appetite but at the state level, these attributes are represented by the rulers, soldiers and farmers. According to Plato, this class division is both natural and moral. 

• Reason represents the ruling class, who are also called Men of the Golden Class because they should have gold in their nature and are as precious as the metal.

• Spirit represents the soldiers who are also called Men of Silver Class because they're the warriors that should have silver in their nature as they are concerned with the security and safety of the nation. 

• Appetite represents the majority section of the society who generates economy in the society. They are also called Men of the Iron Class because they have iron in their nature; they're less valuable.

 Justice is ensured when all of these classes perform their function and do not interfere with the others. It demands selfless devotion to the state and doing the right thing.

Plato believes justice can only prevail by the rule of his philosopher king who he believes is the ultimate embodiment of 'reason' and wants to use his office for selfish gains. Philosophy kings are free from labour and private worries and any kind of entanglements by the system of communism of property.