(Student’s Full Name)
“At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is worst”—Aristotle
The above statement made by Aristotle emphasizes the significance of law and justice in not only maintaining order, but also help to affirm the nobility and distinction of human beings. In Thrasymachus’s account of justice, the philosopher presents his argument that different individuals and different states perceive the concept of justice differently. For the purposes of this essay, I will be focusing on 377a and 344e, while paying special attention to 338d-339a, 338a-339d, and 343b-344c. The political situation that will be analyzed is the current US presidential race. The conclusions that will be drawn from the readings and the analysis will be that society often allows an unjust person to get his own way and the unjust person will find ways to allow himself to benefit from a situation at the expense of (and more than) the unjust person.
In Plato’s Republic, Thrasymachus argues that “justice and the just are really someone else’s good” and a “personal harm to the one who obeys and serves” (343d). In other words, the philosopher appears to be indicating that justice, in actuality, benefits other persons. However, it places those persons at a disadvantage who follow all the rules dictated by the justice system. Therefore, Thrasymachus is suggesting that it is futile to for anyone follow all of the rules of the justice system if she is not going to benefit from doing so. In addition, the philosopher argues that “[i]njustice” dominates over the “truly simple and just” (Plato 343d). This is because the one who is influenced by injustice takes advantage of the “truly simple and just” (Plato 343d). Thrasymachus goes on to explain that those who truly follow the rule of law and justice benefit the “stronger” while making “whom they serve happy but themselves” (Plato 343d). The philosopher explains that it is because of this that the “unjust man” has less than “just man” (Plato 343e). The philosopher uses a contractual agreement to provide an illustration of what he is arguing to the other philosophers.
Furthermore, Thrasymachus explains that when a “just man is a partner of the unjust man” then the just man ends up walking away with less than the unjust (Plato 343e). Therefore, this means that when the man who attempts to be just and fair enters into a contract with an unjust person then this unjust person will do what is necessary to cheat the just one. The unjust person in the contractual agreement will manipulate the terms of agreement to ensure that he will end up getting more than the unjust person. In fact, the unjust not only ends up getting more, but the just ends up getting less. Thrasymachus explains that the just man pays more on the “basis of equal property” and the “unjust man” (Plato 343e). The philosopher goes on to explain that the just “makes no profit” but the unjust makes a lot of money (Plato 343e).
Thrasymachus shows that not only does the just man benefit more than the unjust one in the area of finances, but also in the political arena. The philosopher explains that even if the just man does not have to suffer any other penalty the unjust man will “see his domestic affairs deteriorate from neglect” (Plato 343e). Thrasymachus indicates that the just man does not get any “advantage from the public store” or get compensated for it (Plato 343e). On the other hand, Thrasymachus explains that the unjust man does not have to suffer from being in such a predicament. The philosopher notes that while he is in office the just man “incurs the ill will of his relatives” when he is “unwilling” to serve them “against what is just” while the unjust man is free from having to endure such a situation (Plato 343e). The philosopher continues by saying that the person who does not always adhere to the principle of justice is able to “get the better in a big way” (Plato 344a). Thrasymachus explains that when an individual does the “most perfect injustice” extremely happy because he is benefiting from not adhering to the principles of law and justice (Plato 344a). However, the just person ends up being extremely unhappy.
Afterwards, Thrasymachus provides the definition of tyranny, by indicating that it is the taking away of “what belongs to others,” either stealthily or forcibly, by means of a corrupt system controlled by corrupt individuals, who reap the reward of being unjust (Plato 344a). It is noted by the philosopher that when an individual takes others’ money as well as “kidnaps and enslaves” these persons, these people are often referred to as “being happy and blessed” (Plato 344b). Thrasymachus also recognized the fact that this is the case when people are aware of the injustices that are committed by an unjust individual. The philosopher explains further that when persons are exposed to such corruption do not “fear doing unjust deeds” (Plato 344c). Therefore, Thrasymachus concludes the argument that “injustice” is “mightier, freer, and more masterful” than just (Plato 344c). He reiterated the point that justice benefits the “stronger,” and the “unjust” is “what is profitable and advantageous for oneself” (Plato 344c).
In order to gain a complete understanding of what Thrasymachus is discussing, it would be best to apply such principles to a recent event, such as the current US presidential race. The US presidential race proves the point that an unjust individual can benefit from his unjust practices. For instance, Donald Trump despite being involved in the Trump university scandal, which saw the defrauding of students, the candidate still won the largest number of votes of any presidential candidate in history in the Republican primaries. Derek Johnson explains that the “‘students’ who are alleging fraud thought they were getting a legitimate experience” (par. 6). It appears as if Trump’s continued successes in his businesses have caused persons to be blinded to the fact that he is a dishonest individual.
In addition, the American society appears to be rewarding Trump for his brash, bigoted and rude statements that others have not gotten away with. For instance, he has made several bigoted statements about Mexicans. Trump has mentioned that Mexicans “rapists” and they are criminals who are entering the United States illegally (Moreno par. 5). Despite the fact that this is largely untrue, Trump has steadily rose to prominence in the Republican Party since making those statements. Furthermore, Trump does not appear to have a thorough and well-thought out plan for dealing with illegal immigration. He simply states that he will be building a wall to keep the Hispanics from entering the country. This appears to be an unjust act as it implies that the presidential candidate plans to pursue an isolationist policy if he were to become president. This will be unjust because it will cause US relations with other countries to deteriorate; and could potentially lead to the collapse of the US economy. However, despite the isolationist policy that Trump plans to pursue he appears to be celebrated for his brashness and bravado while presenting those ideas to the public.
Although not quite as dramatic as Trump’s, Hilary Clinton is another candidate who has experienced success during the presidential race. However, there are some controversies that surround her as it pertains to her integrity. The email scandal, which concerns Clinton having a private email server at home, raised questions related to her integrity and her ability to adhere to principles that are in alignment with justice. It was discovered that Clinton “destroyed at least one work-related email stored on her illicit email server” (Hayward par. 1). Additionally, it was discovered that “dozens of names and events” were removed from her “official Secretary of State calendar” (Hayward par. 1). Furthermore, it was discovered that Huma Abedin, Clinton’s aide, tried to advise Clinton to use a “state.gov email account” but the former Secretary of State refused by stating that she and her aide get separate devices, but she did not want to risk the “personal [email] being accessible” (Hayward par. 2). This not only raises issues about integrity, but also issues concerning justice. Clinton did not adhere to the government rules which stated that she should own a state.gov email account. She still went ahead and had the private email account. It suggests that Clinton had something to hide while being Secretary of State and shows that she was unwilling to be transparent in her dealings with government business. Nevertheless, Clinton happens to be an overwhelming favorite of the super delegates of the Democratic Party.
The events U.S. presidential race helps to underscore the point being made about by Thrasymachus who is essentially arguing that an unjust individual is able to benefit more than a just individual. Despite Clinton and Trump participating in activities that are unjust, they were still able to defeat their competitors in their respective parties. These two presidential candidates were able to defeat their competitors despite the fact that they were more honest, trustworthy, and just than the two presidential candidates, who were chosen by the voters during the primaries. Therefore, in the context of the US Presidential elections, power is used by the two presidential candidates to corrupt the minds of individuals by concealing the truth. In concealing the truth, the presidential candidates are able to manipulate the outcomes of situations in their favor. In addition, there are able to use their concealment of the truth, through their unjust activities, to control individuals’ beliefs and perceptions.
Works Cited
Hayward, John. “AP: Hillary Clinton Destroyed Gov't Email, Wiped Names From Her Calendar - Breitbart.” Breitbart News. Breitbart, 24 June 2016. Web. 26 June 2016.
Johnson, Derek. “The Comprehensive Trump University Lawsuit Scandal Breakdown - GoodCall News.” The Comprehensive Trump University Lawsuit Scandal Breakdown - GoodCall News. GoodCall, LLC, 07 Mar. 2016. Web. 26 June 2016.
Moreno, Carolina. “9 Outrageous Things Donald Trump Has Said about Lations.” Huffington Post. N.p., 8 Aug. 2015. Web. 25 June 2016.
Plato. “The Republic.” Gutenberg. Gutenberg, 27 Aug. 2008. Web. 25 June 2016.
Plato, and Allan Bloom. The Republic. New York: Basic, 1968. Print.
Plato. “The Internet Classics Archive | The Republic by Plato.” The Internet Classics Archive | The Republic by Plato. Trans. Benjamin Jowett. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 June 2016.
