On Plato’s Theory Of Justice

Plato was born in the fourth year of Peloponnesian War which consumed Athenian considerable military strength and wealth. Athens was defeated in the war at last. Athens democratic system exposed lots of defects in the war. Moreover, Plato’s mentor Socrates was executed with unwarranted charge, which left a lifelong impression on Plato. Faced with the situation, Plato who had his own political ideals began to think deeply about all of this and reflect on the people who governed the country and their laws and habits. During the periods of outgoing study tours and establishing Plato’s Academy, Plato put forward his own political ideas. Plato’s ideology took theory or speculative philosophy as the main content and included rich practical philosophy and political philosophy that took justice as the core was the concentrated expression. The theory of justice is the core of Plato’s theoretical system and the discussion on justice was included in his works The Republic.The paper mainly studies Plato’s theory of justice. Through collecting and sorting reference materials, the sequence of study is from Plato’s previous theory of justice and Plato’s theory of justice to the influence of Plato’s theory of justice to later ages. In other words, the paper studies Plato’s theory of justice from three ideological lines.The first part of the paper studies the evolution of previous Plato’s theory of justice in early stage, from myth justice to later natural justice and summarized and analyzed the origin of the word justice. Justice represents fairness, impartiality, order, consciousness and it is freedom, security, legal system and common good, everyone can get what he deserves.The second part and the third part make a specific analysis into the concept of justice discussed in Plato’s main theoretical works about justice- Republic. Through refuting the concept of justice raised by the character in drama, the paper analyzes how to realize the justice in city-state and individual justice. The realization of the justice in city-state needs three components in city-state: producer, guardian and the ruler. These three kinds of people shall perform their own functions on their own positions and do not interfere each other.Individual justice needs three components in person’s soul: desire, passion and rationality and uses four virtues: wisdom, braveness, abstinence and justice to make the three components influence each other to realize self justice. The two parts also study the relationship between city-state justice and soul justice and summarize Plato’s ideas on justice and then analyze and study how to establish a just state from the perspective of Plato. Plato came up with the ruling of philosopher king, public ownership and public education to maintain a just state.In the fourth part, the paper evaluates Plato’s theory of justice and lists the thought of Aristotle, Cicero and Rawls to explain the influence of Plato’s theory of justice on later ages.Plato’s thought plays a significant role in western political philosophy history and his theory of justice can be said as the source of justice research. As a result, the later scholars tend todate back to Plato period when they study the theory of justice. At last, the paper points out how Plato’s theory of justice enlightens us to build a better society. With the development of age and the progress of civilization, especially the accelerating of globalization process,justice will gradually become a common value norm that gains wide acceptance among people. A good society is one that guarantees freedom, human right and advocates justice. The realization of justice can motivate people’s enthusiasm, initiative and creativity to realize human values and keep social value. It provides the basic conditions for all the good possibilities to ensure that everyone can have the welfare brought about by the society and enjoy public virtues.