Telemachus And Socrates Craft

While speaking with Polemarchus the conversation regarding crafts lies in what they owe or give. In taking this form of conversation, after discussing what medicine and cooking give, Socrates urges Polemarchus to express what justice gives: “Now what does the craft we would call justice give, and to whom or what does it give it” (332d)? Polemarchus, based on the previous discussion, responds: “It gives benefit to friends and arm to enemies […] In wars and alliances” (332d-e). Following this discussion, Polemarchus agrees that a just individual is the most capable of benefiting friends in alliances and wars. Socrates, given that just men have been categorized as craftsmen, then discusses when they are useful to others. A doctor is not useful
Thrasymachus, by course of the conversation must agree that the additional craft in question must be wage-earning as the conversation has been laid out, without the wages, there is no benefit that the craftsman receives from his craft. However, per the original point, Thrasymachus believes that the craftsman will provide a benefit even when he is not participating in the craft of wage earning. Thus, Socrates replies that Thrasymachus’ original argument is actually the other way around: “no type of craft or rule provides what is beneficial for itself; but, as we have been saying for some time, it provides and enjoins what is beneficial for its subject, and aims at what is advantageous for it- the weaker, not the stronger” (346e). In doing so, the conversation of a craft, is not sufficient for Socrates to fully agree that justice is what is advantageous for the stronger. Given their conversation it is proven, by asking specifying questions, that crafts provide what is advantageous of the weaker. Therefore, with this conversation, Justice is more beneficial for the weaker despite Thrasymachus’ initial