PHI 2000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Moral Character, Polemarchus, Thrasymachus
Document Summary
How different from other dialogues: more theory, less conversation, extended thought experiment. What is justice: in the human soul, in society- the ideal state , knowledge, education, art, religion. Modern theories of justice: address justice at level of society, seek a procedural approach to justice. Find the right rules, laws, calculation: leave good life questions to the individual, brackets moral character of individuals. Plato"s republic: is a definition of virtue dialogue, just is in the soul as much as the state. Moral character part of justice: a substantive approach to justice, good life is central to answer, what is justice? . Opening dialogue of republic: socrates and a room full of friends, including sophist thrasymachus, and plato"s older brothers glaucon & ademantus. Dike- social justice, also right conduct: start with conventional view. A just person is who does the right thing. I give a man his due when i treat him in the way that is appropriate to him.
