Thursday, September 3, 2009

What is Justice?


In our discussion of the Apology we have become familiar with Socrates' view of the good life. We have seen that he was willing to give his life for his beliefs--one must be virtuous and live an examined life to be good. Socrates feared the possibility of acting without virtue more than he feared death. But, we might ask, what does it mean to be virtuous and how do we know if we are virtuous? For example, how do we define a virtue such as "justice"? What, exactly, is "bravery"?

This week we will turn to Plato's Republic. Like the Apology, this work also features Socrates as he engages in discussion with friends and fellow Athenians (who are sometimes not so friendly to Socrates!). The Republic outlines the creation of Plato's ideal state, a republic ruled by philosopher kings. Among the many topics discussed in this work, the virtues are again taken up and examined. We will focus on some of the passages considering the virtue of justice and what it means to be just.

In preparation for this discussion it will be helpful to do some thinking about justice. Where and in regard to what do you hear the term "justice" used in our society? What does it mean for something or someone to be "just" or act with "justice"? As usual, considered thought is all that is required here. Perhaps if we make some initial attempts at an answer we can get closer to the truth about justice as a class.

18 comments:

  1. JUSTICE IN OUR SOCIETY HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH LAW OR FREEDOM SO TO BE JUSTICE MEANS TO BE FREE.
    REGINALD J.

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  2. WHEN I THINK OF JUSTICE IT TAKES ME BACK TO TE THOUGHT OF SLAVERY. I WOLDNT SAY THAT JUSTICE MEANS THE SAME AS FEEDOM , BT THEY MOST DEFINITELY RELATE TO ONE ANOTHER. JUSTICE IS HAVING THE RIGHT TO LIVE FREE AND TO BE ABLE TO SET A STANDARD FOR ONES SELF , NOT FOR OTHERS TO DO SO FOR A PERSON. ON THE OTHER HAND TO BE JUST IS TO BE TRUE/ HONEST TO YOUR SELF AND OTHERS . TIA SHACK

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  3. I would say justice is being treated equaly and right. One would have justice when he/she is out of harms way, not mistreated, and has equal opportunity to all rights.

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  4. JUSTICE is being fair. No matter what the situation may be, you should always be fair.

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  5. Nakia Brunson
    When a crime is committed intentionally or accidentally and the family of the victim is wanting the wrong doer to pay, it is only justice that the person that committed the crime pay for what they did. Justice is something that can make you or break you. You can learn from what justice has gotten you or not. Justice can take your freedom and give you time to think about why it was wrong that you did. Justice doesn't take all the emotional pain away but it lets the people know that you can't get away with doing what you want to do when it's not right even though you may think it's right.

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  6. Justice to me is reaping what you sow,and giving others a fair chance with equal rights. According the Bible, God is a just God. In it ( the Bible), it says that God will repay everyone according to what they have done on this earth while living when He returns or when you die. He constantly reminds us in His Word that He will stand up for the poor and His people not to mention that revenge is His when someone does us wrong. When He comes back, those who are first will be last and those that were last will be first. Today, you have a lot of unfairnes going around. Justice is God to the full extent.Justice is letting God have His way all the way. Justice is what God is. Autumn Jones

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  7. I THINK JUSTICE IS LIKE WHEN SOMETHING HAS BEEN SOLVED. WHEN THINGS ARE CORRECT. LIKE WHEN YOU ARE FREE FROM SOME OF THE NOTHINGS IN LIFE HAVING A SUCCESS. AS SO WHEN THE POLICE BRINGS SOMEONE TO JAIL.

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  8. well when i think of justice i think of how o'bama has justice over out country, he is doing something brave, because he was just an afican american but he became president and si trying to make our country have justice with the war, witch means he is trying to solve the problem or problems we have in the country today.

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  9. Justice is the act of helping others and not doing things that are unjust or unfair to a society. Police officers, lawyers, and judges are examples of people that serve justice across America for all citizens.

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  10. Everyone deserves justice no matter what others think of them. He believed in what he knew and he did not let anything stop him

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  11. Justice is doing what is right. It has to better not only the person giving it out but the people around. To be just is to be true and have value for one's self-esteem It it seems right in youe conscience, it shud be considered just.

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  12. Justice is being euallaly fair to everybody know matter what the situation is.

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  13. jJustice has many diffrent reasons but to me justice means to be equal in a certain way...

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  14. justice is being equal and fair. justice can also be form of revenge but not in bad way.

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  15. Justice is being obedient to God and treating others how you want to be treated. in other words if you desire being treated good then you should learn to treat others good. if you treat others bsd then you should expect to be treated bad. Keeunia Martin

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  16. To me, to have justice is to have an opportunity to prove what is rigteous, and to certain people that justice may not be justice at all, but to others it is. Justice to me does not exist because it is continuos the pattern continues because when one person believe they have justice another person is going to want justice because they feel that justice is unjust.

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