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Book I of Plato’s Republic, begins with various philosophers and thinkers providing their definitions of ‘justice.’ Each view works with the same motif, by stating that justice unifies a group of people, because it leads to trust and reliance. Arguments are made that justice is more helpful to the powerful, though, in the grand scheme of reality, all are served under the eyes of justice.

Book II of the Republic continues the discussion of justice. Glaucon, a protagonist of the book, is introduced, and provides his three categories of humanity. These include: those who are pleasurable for themselves and their results, those that bring good results (but with difficulty), and those who bring no results (but are pleasurable).

Socrates places justice in the first category of Glaucon’s trilogy. Socrates states: “I myself put it among the finest goods, as something to be valued by anyone who is going to be blessed with happiness, both because of itself and because of what comes from it” (Republic, Book II 358a). Glaucon claims that justice is the mean between two extremes, placing it in the second category. He defends his argument by using the example of the “Ring of Gyes,” a magical ring that turns its wearer invisible. He continues to argue that humans, if given the opportunity to be unjust without suffering punishment, would choose a life of injustice, in order to maximize their own interests.

In an attempt to provide a satisfactory definition of justice, Socrates makes an analogy between the justice of an individual human being and of an entire society/city.

He continues by building an imaginary city. Socrates states that the fundamental needs of humans are food, shelter, and clothing. However, he is aware that the inhabitants of his imaginary city will want more than basic necessities. He continues to build this politically correct city by adding a specialized class of soldiers, controlling the flow of false information (censorship), making males and females equal under the eyes of the law, and balancing the populations education between philosophy and physical training. This is Socrates ideal city.

Socrates then divides the human soul into three parts: the appetitive, the spirited and the rational.