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Discuss the virtues of the city as described in Book IV of Plato's Republic, including the four virtues Socrates and his companions consider. Describe how these virtues are defined in relation to the city, and analyze whether the city Socrates depicts truly possesses these virtues. Additionally, examine how these virtues of the city relate to the virtues of the individual human soul, particularly focusing on justice. Consider whether Socrates successfully demonstrates that justice in the individual soul is good and worth choosing for its own sake, based on his discussion in Book IV, especially from page 427D to the end.

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Introduction

In Plato's Republic, particularly in Book IV, Socrates and his interlocutors undertake a detailed examination of justice, both within the city and within the individual soul. This exploration is crucial to understanding Plato's theory of justice as a harmony, and how the virtues underpin this harmony. Socrates's discussion aims to show that a just city exemplifies a well-ordered structure which, in turn, reflects the virtues present in a just individual soul. This paper will analyze the four cardinal virtues discussed in Book IV, assess whether the city Socrates describes embodies these virtues, and interpret how these virtues are represented within the individual soul. Furthermore, it will consider whether Socrates effectively argues that justice is desirable for its own sake, thereby providing compelling reasons to choose justice over injustice.

The Four Virtues in the City

The city described by Socrates in Book IV is characterized by four main virtues: wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice. These virtues serve as the moral and structural foundation of an ideally just city. Socrates begins with the virtue of wisdom, which originates from the ruling class or guardians. Wisdom in the city is defined as the appropriate knowledge and discernment held by the rulers, who possess philosophical insight necessary to govern wisely. This virtue ensures that decisions are made with knowledge of the true good of the city.

Courage, the second virtue, resides within the auxiliaries or auxiliaries class. These are the soldiers or guardians who uphold the rulers' decrees and defend the city. Courage here involves the preservation of the proper fears and beliefs about what is truly good, aligning with the rulers’ wisdom and maintaining the societal order. Courage sustains the harmony by ensuring that the guardians stand firm in their duties, resistant to external or internal threats.

Temperance, also known as moderation or self-control, emerges as a harmony between the different classes when everyone recognizes and adheres to their proper roles and qualities. It is the agreement among the classes that certain virtues are to be upheld by each, preventing disorder and chaos. Temperance ensures that the different parts of the city work together in harmony, with each respecting the others' roles.

Justice, the most comprehensive virtue, is defined as each class and individual performing its appropriate role without interference. In the city, justice occurs when the rulers govern, auxiliaries protect, and producers (artisans, farmers, etc.) produce, each within their spheres, and no class oversteps its boundaries. Justice, therefore, is the virtue of harmony and proper function, ensuring that the city operates optimally and ethically.

Assessment of the City's Virtues

Socrates and his companions depict a city that embodies these virtues to ensure harmony, stability, and the highest good. The question arises whether this city, with its rigid class structure and emphasis on harmony, truly possesses these virtues. Critics argue that such a city might lean toward an elitist or utopian ideal, lacking in flexibility or compassion. Nonetheless, Socrates's model emphasizes that true justice manifests when each class acts in accordance with its nature and role, exemplifying wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice fully integrated into social life.

While the city seems to exemplify these virtues, some modern perspectives question whether such a hierarchical and stratified society can genuinely embody moral virtues like justice in a more egalitarian sense. Yet, within the philosophical framework Socrates proposes, these virtues are essential for a just and flourishing city.

Virtues in the Individual Soul

Transitioning from the city to the individual, Socrates explains that the virtues present in the city also manifest within the human soul. Just as the city has three classes—rulers, auxiliaries, and producers—the soul consists of three parts: rational, spirited, and appetitive. Wisdom resides in the rational part, courage in the spirited part, and temperance in the harmony between the rational and appetitive parts. Justice in the soul, then, occurs when each part performs its appropriate role without interference from the others.

Thus, the individual’s virtue of justice echoes the city’s structure of harmony and proper function. Socrates elaborates that justice in the soul is a harmony in which the rational guides the spirited and appetitive parts, with each sustaining the others. This internal harmony leads to a well-ordered and virtuous life. The alignment between the virtues of the city and those of the soul underscores Plato’s idea that justice is an intrinsic good, and a just person is one whose soul functions correctly, leading to true happiness and fulfillment.

Does Socrates Demonstrate Justice as Worthy of Choice?

The final part of the discussion involves whether Socrates convincingly argues that justice—both in the city and in the individual—is desirable for its own sake. In Book IV, especially from page 427D onward, Socrates emphasizes that justice benefits the individual from within, producing harmony, peace, and inner happiness. Unlike hedonistic or materialistic pursuits, justice aligns with human nature’s deepest needs, making it inherently worth choosing.

Socrates's analogy of the just city as a larger version of the just soul helps to illustrate that justice is a virtue that promotes psychological and social well-being. By defending justice as a good in itself, Socrates seeks to demonstrate that the just life is superior to the unjust life, which is chaotic and burdensome due to internal contradictions and the loss of harmony. The intricate reasoning suggests that justice is not merely instrumentally valuable but is intrinsically good and desirable for its own sake, fostering a life of integrity and happiness.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the virtues Socrates discusses in Book IV—wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice—are essential for the proper functioning of both the city and the individual soul. The city embodies these virtues through its class structures and harmonious organization, reflecting the virtues present in a well-ordered soul. Socrates's rational argumentation in the final part of Book IV aims to establish that justice is an intrinsic good, worthy of choice for its own sake. This comprehensive understanding of virtue forms a central tenet of Plato’s philosophy, emphasizing the harmony that results from justice at both societal and individual levels.

References

• Plato. (1992). Republic (G. M. A. Grube, Trans.). Hackett Publishing Company.
• Annas, J. (1999). An Introduction to Plato’s Republic. Oxford University Press.
• Ames, R. (2010). The Philosophy of Plato. Oxford University Press.
• Klosko, G. (2006). The Development of Plato’s Political Philosophy. Routledge.
• Fine, G. (1993). The Plato Machine: Greek Philosophy and the Computer. Oxford University Press.
• Mitchell, T. (2015). Justice, Harmony, and the Human Soul. Cambridge University Press.
• Burnyeat, M. (2000). “Plato’s Republic” in The Cambridge Companion to Plato. Cambridge University Press.
• Nails, D. (2002). The Cave and the Light: Plato versus Aristotle. University of Chicago Press.
• Kottilak, T. (2001). Virtue and the City: Socratic Foundations of Political Philosophy. Harvard University Press.
• Rudd, N. (2017). Justice and the Good Life. Oxford University Press.