Mabute, Philip Jason M.

2014-02069-MN-0

Assignment #1

Plato’s Republic

1. Explain the Socratic method of elenchus and its use(s) in philosophical/intellectual engagement.
- The Socratic method of elenchus is the way to know how well s/he knows the thought s/he
is saying by testing its credibility. It’s like truly knowing the answer to a question rather than
simply knowing the answer without understanding it. It can be used to determine how
knowledgeable a person is to the things around him/her and how curious s/he can be to the
point that s/he wants to know more about a certain thing.
2. Guided by the Socratic elenchus, show the inadequacies detected in the definition of Justice of;
a. Polemarchus (to give one what is due)
- Using the virtue or goodness of the good people to make other people bad
- Using justice of the just people to make people unjust
b. Thrasymachus (justice is the interest of the stronger)
- ‘The established rule is surely stronger’, said by Thrasymachus, is an inadequacy to the
definition of justice because it supports the power of the already established rule which
denies or weakens the efficiency of the incoming new rule which can be much proper or
stronger.
3. What alternative (as implied in Book 1) was offered by Socrates as a better
understanding/notion of Justice? (rooted in craftsmanship/proper function)
- Injustice causes fractions, hatreds, quarrels among the people, while justice brings
friendship and a sense of common purpose
- An alternative to the better understanding of justice that was offered by Socrates is to
properly perform the functions of an individual with respect to the virtues and the vices.