Polemarchus Enhancing Society's View Of Justice

Enhancing Society's View of Justice The Republic of Plato written by Plato and translated by Allan Bloom emphasizes the importance of justice in society through the use of highly developed arguments by influential and prominent figures in Athens, Greece. Socrates, known for his anomalous use of arguments and rhetoric with speech, begins tackling the question of what justice is, through a series of discussions. Cephalus, Polemarchus' father, defines justice using truth and the return of goods as his essential point. Socrates then presents the case of returning weapons to a man who's gone mad, making Cephalus realize the defect in his position. Polemarchus takes the discussion and connects justice to friends and enemies leading to toilsome argumentation between the two.

He develops his argument by bringing in friends and enemies to the discussion stating that justice is returning to them what is owed. According to Polemarchus, friends are owed good while enemies are to receive harm. This is where his definition of Justice is defined, "Justice is helping friends and harming enemies"(11). In giving what is owed to each, they are being treated in a just manner. Polemarchus develops this perspective since his life revolves around enemies and allies. War is a significant factor in Polemarchus character, which is why his definition of justice has to do with harming those who have committed wrong doings to him. Since warfare is crucial to them, the perspective of justice is to treats his friends, allies with respect and returns their friendship, which is giving them what is owed, while to his enemies, they are to receive harm. Mistreating enemies is part of Justice because they are receiving their own form of payment. Acquiring friendships and harming those whom are unrighteous is the idea that Polemarchus is developing in his