Justice Opinion 2

In your opinion, is Polemarchus definition of justice, derived from the poet Simonedes, an improvement from his father’s definition?

I would have to say no. The reason why is because the first one is all about truthfulness and repaying your debts. The second one involves fighting, in no situation should fighting be used. That is my opinion, but I think the first definition of justice is right.

What is Simonides definition of justice? Has Polemarchus interpreted him correctly?

Siomonides definition of justice is “That it is right to give every man his due”. I think that Polemarchus interpreted this wrong. The reason why I think this is because Polemarchus stance on justice is to help your friends, but harm your enemies. I personally couldent see how Polemarchus could have pulled hurting your enemies from giving every man his due. Giving a man his due to me is repaying, giving back. I could be wrong, but I think Polemarchus interpreted him wrong.

What problem does Socrates see in the phrase, “helping one’s friends and harming ones enemies”? Why is this not an accurate definition of justice?

The problem he sees is defining who is good or bad. “ ‘But don’t men often make mistakes, and think a man honest when he is not, and vice versa’ ‘Yes, they do’ ‘In that case their enemies are good and their friends bad.’ ” You can say to harm a friend, but hurt an enemy, but it doesn’t specify who is good or bad. Unlike in the first, it says to help others and be honest. That is why this cant be right, because good or bad cant be defined.

What lesson do you think Socrates/Plato is trying to prove by having Polemarchus give in to Socrates when his father (Cephalus) would not?

This could be because Cephalus is older, he is wiser, and he has lived longer. But Polemarchus has not lived as long and couldn’t know as much as his father. Socrates/Plato could be trying to teach people to respect your elders because they are knowledgeable.

Whose argument do you find more convincing, Polemarchus or Socrates? Why?

I find Socrates argument much stronger. The reason why I think this is one because in the end Polemarchus changes his mind and sides with Socrates. That is an example of a strong argument, two, because Socrates says “ ‘ Then, Polemarchus, it is not the function of the just man to harm either his friends harm either his friends or anyone else, but of his opposite, the unjust man.’ ” He says that a just man would never harm anyone, because that would be unjust. That was the turning point of Polemarchus, that was also a strong quote because it says that is morally right. The morally right thing is to never harm your enemies, because bringing harm unto somebody is unjust.