CHAPTER XXXVI.

REPUBLIC--REMARKS ON ITS MAIN THESIS.

Summary of the preceding chapter 95

Title of the Republic, of ancient date, but only a partial indication of its contents 96

Parallelism between the Commonwealth and the Individual 96

Each of them a whole, composed of parts distinct in function and unequal in merit 97

End proposed by Plato. Happiness of the Commonwealth. Happiness of the individual. Conditions of happiness 98

Peculiar view of Justice taken by Plato 99

Pleadings of Glaukon and Adeimantus _ib._

The arguments which they enforce were not invented by the Sophists, but were the received views anterior to Plato 100

Argument of Sokrates to refute them. Sentiments in which it originates. Panegyric on Justice 101

Different senses of justice--wider and narrower sense 102

Plato's sense of the word Justice or Virtue--self-regarding 104

He represents the motives to it, as arising from the internal happiness of the just agents 105

His theory departs more widely from the truth than that which he opposes. Argument of Adeimantus discussed 106

A Reciprocity of rights and duties between men in social life--different feelings towards one and towards the other 109

Plato's own theory, respecting the genesis of society, is based on reciprocity 111

Antithesis and correlation of obligation and right. Necessity of keeping the two ideas together, as the basis of any theory respecting society 112

Characteristic feature of the Platonic Commonwealth--specialization of services to that function for which each man is fit--will not apply to one individual separately 114

Plato has not made good his refutation--the thesis which he impugns is true 116

Statement of the real issue between him and his opponents 117

He himself misrepresents this issue--he describes his opponents as enemies of justice _ib._

Farther arguments of Plato in support of his thesis. Comparison of three different characters of men 118

His arguments do not go to the point which he professes to aim at 120

Exaggerated parallelism between the Commonwealth and the individual man 121

Second Argument of Plato to prove the happiness of the just man--He now recalls his previous concession, and assumes that the just man will receive just treatment and esteem from others _ib._

Dependence of the happiness of the individual on the society in which he is placed 123

Inconsistency of affirming general positions respecting the happiness of the just man, in all societies without distinction 124

Qualified sense in which only this can be done 125

Question--Whether the just man is orthodox or dissenter in his society?--important in discussing whether he is happy 126

Comparison of the position of Sokrates at Athens, with that of his accusers _ib._

Imperfect ethical basis on which Plato has conducted the discussion in the Republic 127

Plato in Republic is preacher, inculcating useful beliefs--not philosopher, establishing scientific theory. State of Just and Unjust Man in the Platonic Commonwealth 129

Comparative happiness of the two in actual communities. Plato is dissatisfied with it--This is his motive for recasting society on his own principles 130

Confusion between the preacher and the philosopher in the Platonic Republic 131

Remarks on the contrast between ethical theory and ethical precepts _ib._