The Republic
There is no doubt that The Republic by Plato has helped developed the foundation of ethics. Since the main theme of The Republic is focused on the nature of Justice, it is ideal to say that ethics, which is based on the principles of regulating the distribution of social benefits and its burdens deals directly with the issue of what is fairness or not in our society(Norman, 83).
Plato makes a lot of interesting arguments in The Republic regarding the issues of ethics. Plato was more focused on debunking theories that have been promoted by Cephalus, Thrasymachus, and Glaucon. Because Plato believed that their theories are focused on a single component, and that is they considered justice as something external. In other words, they perceive justice as an achievement or a convention they have, none of them carried it into the soul or considered it in place of its habitation (Bhandari). And in making his case, Plato argued that justice does not depend upon a chance, convention or upon external force. He sees it as the right condition of the human soul by the very nature of man when seen in the fullness of his environment. For Plato, this observation is important because justice is internal since it resides within the soul.
First, the part I find fascinating relates to the reconciliation of nature and convention. I do believe this argument is vulnerable because, if justice is indeed comparable to health, then moral virtuousness should be something that we need just as we need physical health (Norman, 83). The idea that anyone who has appropriately coherent soul will not misappropriate money or commit any criminal act seems improbable. I do however agree that items that are traditionally dishonorable such as self-indulgence, obstinacy, luxury, and obtaining money unjustly are so interested because they involve subservience to physical appetites. But whether injustice always stems from the above-mentioned traditionally dishonorable acts is quite debatable.
Second, the linking of justice and benefit is essential because all of us will choose good physical health in a heart over illness. Personally, I believe good health is everything because people can only engage in other stuff if and only they are healthy. Therefore, we do believe that justice which Plato asserts emanates from the soul can be compared with physical health then, it is quite obvious why Plato try to justify his claim that just life is inherently happy and desirable. This is essential because if we truly believe that just life is intrinsically cheerful and desirable, then we as individual will be compelled to do what is morally upright all the time. Because we know failure to do so will result in misery for those affected.
Third, the objectivity of values relates perfectly to the idea of morality because; your actions will determine what your values are. According to Norman 1983, “what actually counts as health or illness seems to be objectively determinable, and it seems plausible too to maintain that desirability of health is not merely a matter of subjective preference.”