Notes for Lecture on Republic IX
Note: A character named Thrasymachus claimed in book I that a tyrant who is completely unjust lives the happiest and most blessed life, while the just are pathetic and much worse off because of their justice. Socrates is returning to that claim now in book IX, and he attempts to show that the opposite is the case: The tyrant is the most miserable of all people, precisely because of his injustice, and a truly just person is best off. This is also meant to answer Glaucon's and Adeimantus' challenge from book II.
1. What kind of life does the Tyrant lead and why?
I will spend significant time in lecture reflecting on the notion of true human freedom and the idea that it is essentially linked to living a reason-governed life, which Plato thinks is in turn linked to living a good and just life.
2. Old Question Again: Why should we practice justice in our lives and refrain from committing acts of injustice? How is acting justly and being just intrinsically good for us? Why should we really be (and not merely appear) just?
3. Answer: Plato answers these questions using the metaphor of The Beast, illustrating his claims about the effects of just and unjust actions on the soul; this leads to a new account of what justice really is--very different from Glaucon's account in book II--and shows why Plato thinks justice is a supremely important intrinsic good. Be sure you can explain this account and how Plato (through the character of Socrates) takes it to answer the challenges from book II.
4. Problem for Discussion: Suppose this is right, and let’s grant that the life of the full-blown tyrant is miserable and to be avoided. Still, has Socrates succeeded in showing that we should always avoid injustice, and not practice even a little of it? Has he made things too easy on himself by focusing on the most extreme case of injustice, which is clearly undesirable?