Question. What is Thrasymachus's view of justice in Book I of the Republic? Explain the story of Gyges Ring. What is this story meant to establish? Do you think that Thrasymachus's view of justice is correct? Why or why not?
Answer. Thrasymachus philosophy on justice was exactly opposite to that of Socrates’ position. Socrates believed that justice was the important good and all the just persons were good persons. Socrates view on justice considered it to be the strength of the society’s ethical foundations as it was meant to protect the interests for the common good of the society. Thrasymachus quoted that “Justice is nothing other than what is advantageous for the stronger” (The Republic 338c). He considered the justice to be a tool for the tyrant to amass wealth and public resources on the basis of his free will.
Thrasymachus had a three-point interpretation of the justice. Firstly, the justice was meant to be beneficial for the elite segments of the society. Secondly, the justice was perceived by him to be a medium of obedience of the common people towards the laws of the state. Finally, Justice was not meant to serve as a medium of advantage to the another individual but not the one who actually craved it. All these views explain that Thrasymachus’ stand on justice was not as the object of social good and well-being. Thus, it can be concluded that he was more of a sociologist or a political scientist who framed his opinion of the justice by using empirical evidence from the historical incidents where the despotic rulers imposed their tyranny on the common people under the name of law.
The story of the Gyges ring was explained in the Second book of the Republic. The Gyges ring was supposed to have magical powers and anybody who wore it became invisible . The ring was found by a poor shepherd who was a simple man but he started using it for his benefit (The Republic-II 359b).Hence, the associated power with the ring suppressed all the just behaviour in him and he started doing injustice to others for his personal favour.
The story is set to establish an answer to the primary question that whether humans naturally tend to do injustice or they are forced by their authority to do so. The story of Gyges ring is quoted by Glaucon as a thought experiment to explain the significance of the scenario in which the association of power and authority with human nature subdues the presence of justice in him.
I do not think that Thrasymachus view of the justice is correct because it is based on only one aspect of the entire process of justice. Thrasymachus view of the justice is based on his assumptions regarding the laws formed by the ruler. He said that“ a ruler never makes errors and unerringly decrees what is best for him” (The Republic 341a). However, the existence of justice is beyond the laws formed by the ruler and it actually justifies the actions of the ruler in managing his rule with respect to the interests of his people. Hence, according to Thrasymachus’ view of the justice, a ruler who law and order are not violated by the people is considered to be a just ruler in spite of the fact that all his rules and laws are meant to safeguard his own interests. However, it can be concluded from Socrates’ philosophy of justice that any act that is no meant to serve for the common good of people is considered to be the injustice, whatever may be the vision of the ruler regarding it.
Works Cited
C D. C. Reeve. "Plato. The Republic. Book I". Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2003. Print.
G M. A. Grube, and C D. C. Reeve. "Plato. The Republic. Book II".Indianapolis: Hackett Pub. Co, 1992. Print.
