Socrates Shmuck

These are my reflections on Socrates and his trial, as taught to me by Prof. Gordon Shrimpton at UVIC a la UNI101. Much Obliged good sir, I shall know myself indeed.

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Entertainment

Tags:

• Uni101
• Socrates
• Athens
• democracy
• philosophy
• Plato
• republic

[1023esquimaltrd]

You say it's a concept linked with morality, define the concept, what is this concept of justice? Which societys didnt regard justice as important? What is the "common good"? Do we have a common good? Hedonistic and might makes right, can you ellaborate on the connection? If you had hurt someone, would you believe justice would be "whatever you could get for yourself and get away with"? Is that REALLY what you belive would be just? What if you were hurt, would the justice be the same then?

[RiceballRox]

it'd be what the Taoists call the "Tao", and the Zen practitioners call the "Zen", aka the true way of nature.



[BabyButtSmell]

The import of justice in peoples dealings varies considerably from society to society, and even waxes and wanes within the same society. Justice is ultimately a question of "what is right, what is wrong?" So it can, and does, diminish in practical terms when masses within society become overly concerned & pre-occupied with pursuits of self above all else. Justice enters the equation less and less b/c that affects others. People become guided predominately by gain/pleasure/self. Not by justice.

[BabyButtSmell]

I cannot fit all here. Let me start w/the 1st question. There may be a "divine justice" separate and apart from men's conceptions of it, but if there is, it seems we cannot know for certain what it is. So we must agree to frame the discussion purely in human terms, not divine terms. Justice, as a broad concept, is the sum-total of a society's notions of right and wrong: hence the direct connection to morality. Some notions will be absolute: malum en se. Some are relative: malum prohibitum.

[BabyButtSmell]

Asking "What is justice" has lost relevancy. Justice, as a concept, is inextricably linked with morality and ethical codes of behavior. That's why you got the sorry reactions that you did. The concept of justice was regarded as important in some societies at certain times-such as Socrates' Athens- b/c each man felt some obligation to contribute to the common good. But we live in a hedonistic society where might makes right, and "justice" is "whatever I can get for myself and get away with."