Plato's Concept of Justice
Plato's Concept of Justice Plato’s concept of justice is central to his political philosophy and is most comprehensively discussed in his work, The Republic . For Plato, justice is not just a legal or moral principle but a foundational virtue that ensures the ideal functioning of both the individual and the state. Justice in the Ideal State Plato envisioned an ideal state that possessed four cardinal virtues: Wisdom – embodied by the ruling class, who are philosophers possessing knowledge. Courage – exhibited by the warrior class, who are trained to be brave. Temperance (Self-Control) – present due to the harmony in the societal structure, where each class recognizes and accepts its role. Justice – defined as each individual performing the function for which they are naturally suited, without interfering in the roles of others. For Plato, the state was the ideal realization of justice, and justice was the fundamental principle on which the state had to be founded. It was essent...