SOCRATE’S RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF THE IDEAL SOCIETY AND TRUE SOCIAL JUSTICE

"WE ARE TOLD ON GOOD AUTHORITY, CALLICLES, THAT HEAVEN AND EARTH AND THEIR RESPECTIVE INHABITANTS ARE HELD TOGETHER BY THE BONDS OF SOCIETY AND LOVE AND ORDER AND DISCIPLINE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND THAT IS WHY THE UNIVERSE IS CALLED AN ORDERED WHOLE OR COSMOS AND NOT A STATE OF DISORDER AND LICENCE. YOU, I THINK, FOR ALL YOUR CLEVERNESS, HAVE FAILED TO GRASP THE TRUTH; YOU HAVE NOT OBSERVED HOW GREAT A PART GEOMETRIC EQUALITY PLAYS IN HEAVEN AND EARTH, AND BECAUSE YOU NEGLECT THE STUDY OF GEOMETRY YOU PREACH THE DOCTRINE OF UNFAIR SHARES." -- [PLATO’S, GORGIAS {pp. 117}]

……

“AND NOW, ADEIMANTUS, IS OUR STATE MATURED AND PERFECTED?

I THINK SO.

WHERE, THEN, IS JUSTICE, AND WHERE IS INJUSTICE, AND IN WHAT PART OF THE STATE DID THEY SPRING UP?

PROBABLY IN THE DEALINGS OF THESE CITIZENS WITH ONE ANOTHER. I CANNOT IMAGINE THAT THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE.

I DARE SAY YOU ARE RIGHT IN YOUR SUGGESTION, I SAID; WE HAD BETTER THINK THE MATTER OUT, AND NOT SHRINK FORM THE ENQUIRY.” - [PLATO’S REPUBLIC {pp. 80}]

WHAT IS SOCIAL JUSTICE TO SOCRATES?

RELATES TO “THE DOCTRINE OF FAIR SHARES”

== AND ==

TAKES PLACE IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PEOPLE

== THEREFORE ==

JUSTICE IS THE EQUITABLE AND FAIR TREATMENT OF OTHERS.

ACCORDING TO SOCRATIC/PLATONIC PHILOSOPHY, PROPERLY CONSIDERED, JUSTICE IS CONCERNED WITH THE EQUITABILITY OR FAIRNESS IN INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS.

{{{SOCRATIC ASIDE: JUSTICE IS SYMETRICAL AND HARMONIOUS [HARMONIOUS WHOLE], THE ISSUE IS HOW DO WE ACHIEVE IT --- AT THE LEVEL OF THE “INDIVIDUAL,” “COMMUNITY” LEVEL, AND THE LEVEL OF THE “STATE.”}}}

HIS STUDENT, ARISTOTLE OFFERED A FURTHER ACCOUNT OF DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE THAT MADE ALLOWANCES FOR THE SOCIAL RECTIFICATION OF INDIVIDUAL WRONGS. MODERN SOCIETY AND MORAL REASONING IN THE WESTERN TRADITION HAS FOLLOWED ARISTOTLE'S CONCEPTIONS OF RETRIBUTIVE AND DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE.

RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE REFERS TO A TRADITIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE METHOD OF RETRIBUTION OR FIXING BLAME AND ATTACHING COMMENSURATE PUNISHMENT.

DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE THE DOCTRINE THAT A DECISION IS JUST OR RIGHT IF ALL PARTIES RECEIVE WHAT THEY NEED OR DESERVE – OR – THE DISTRIBUTION OF REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS TO EVERY ONE ACCORDING TO HIS MERITS OR DEMERITS.

SOCRATIC METHODODOLOGY

...

I) THE SOCRATIC DICTUM

A) “THE UNEXAMINED LIFE IS NOT WORTH LIVING.”

B) “KNOW THYSELF!”

C) “THE IDEAL SOCIETY” IS BASED ON REASON AND JUSTICE.

II) TRIPARTITE SYSTEM OF PHILOSOPHY

A) AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL == REASON {MIND} IS THE BRIDGE AND CARETAKER OF THE SOUL AND THE BODY. .

B) AT THE SOCIETAL LEVEL == A STATE BASED ON REASON {RATIONALITY} IS THE BRIDGE IN THE GAP BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH.

III) TWO WORLDS THEORY

1) THE WORLD OF THE GODS == IS PERFECTION, EXCELLENCE, OR LOGOS (THE “IDEAL” STATE)

2) THE WORLD OF HUMAN BEINGS == IS LONGING OR STRIVING FOR PERFECTION, EXCELLENCE OR LOGOS (THE “IDEAL” STATE)

== THEREFORE ==

1) AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL - JUSTICE IS THE EXCELLENCE OF THE SOUL.

2) AT THE SOCIAL LEVEL - JUSTICE IS THE EMULATION OF THE GODS.

...

YOU PURSUE THE IDEAL STATE BY DOING JUSTICE TO YOUR FELLOW (WO)MAN - TO DO JUSTICE TO OTHERS IS TO EMULATE THE GODS.