Justice in the Soul
The city is complete, and Socrates now searches for the four cardinal virtues within it. Wisdom belongs to the guardians (the smallest class who know what is good for the whole); courage belongs to the auxiliaries (who preserve right opinion about what to fear); temperance is harmony among all classes (agreement about who should rule). But what is justice? It is each part doing its own work and not meddling with others' functions - the principle of specialization applied to the whole. Now Socrates applies this to the individual soul, which has three parts: reason (logistikon), spirit (thymos), and appetite (epithymia). Justice in the soul is the same as in the city: each part performing its function under the rule of reason. This is Socrates' answer to Thrasymachus: the just person is not just because of external rewards or fear of punishment, but because their soul is healthy and harmonious.
The Text
What You'll Learn
Comprehension
Lists the four virtues and where they are found: wisdom (guardians), courage (auxiliaries), temperance (all), justice (structure)
Cause & Consequence
Explains why city and soul have the same structure: both are wholes with parts that must harmonize
Meaning
Takes a position on whether this successfully answers the Ring of Gyges challenge
Evidence
Cites a specific passage about justice in the soul or the answer to Thrasymachus
Defense
Maintains or thoughtfully revises position under challenge
Craft
Analyzes how the city-building of Books II-III pays off in Book IV's answer
How It Works
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- 1.Read the text carefully
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- 3.Progress through each stage as you demonstrate understanding
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