by Walter T. Runn

Created on: June 08, 2010   Last Updated: June 09, 2010

In this article, I will discuss and argue Socrates' definition that justice is when the three parts of a human soul: reasoning, spiritual and desire, coagulate to form a harmonious human being. I will present Socrates' definition, then I will consider the objection that according to Socrates, our “job” in both society and dealing with the individual soul is a very vaguely described term.

Therefore, staying within the social spheres is not reasonable. I will then conclude that Socrates' definition was describing a perfect society and what a perfectly just city or individual would look like. However, it is impossible to perfect and Socrates' definition acts as a model to aspire towards, but a model impossible for a human being to accomplish.

Socrates' definition shows that our interior and individual souls need to be right before society or the world can be set right; we constantly talk about how we long for world peace, yet, even though the key is literally inside us all, we are not willing to actually take steps to make it happen. We aren't willing to actually take steps to make it happen, even though the key to it all is right there, literally inside of us.

Socrates' definition of justice really dealt with finding the best way to live. His definition is as stated: “And in truth justice is, it seems, something of this sort. However, it isn't concerned with someone's doing his own externally, but with what is inside him, with what is truly himself and his own. One who is just does not allow any part of himself to do the work of another part or allow the various classes within him to meddle with each other. He regulates well what is really his own and rules himself.”1

According to this definition, when and only when we prioritize and mark the different 'classes' within ourselves and make these elements harmonize with each other, could we ever be just. It seems to me that he says that we have three different parts and classes in ourselves: our reasoning element, our spiritual element, and our desire and pleasure element.

Each of these parts have certain responsibilities and all are necessary to make a person human. However, so often we try to allow one or two of these three to dominate and control our lives. People who are addicted to sex, drugs, and alcohol are driven and controlled by the element of desire.

Scientists who adamantly ignore anything spiritual due to religions' lack of scientific evidence are driven by reason and logic.

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