Why Is Socrates Unjust

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Is there a such thing of unjust, and just laws? If these unjust laws actual exist, should one disobey these laws if unjust. These questions can be applied to Socrates, a wise philosopher, who is on death row, for disobeying the law in the novel “Five Dialogues”. revised by John M. Cooper. Socrates believes that if he broke an unjust law, then one should still be penalized for these action, even the law that is being broken is considered unjust. Socrates would rather die than to actually escape from his wrong doing. Is Socrates theory of the situation infact not conclusive. In this paper, I will argue that in fact Socrates’ argument of what is unjust and just is infact not persuasive, but he contradicts himself and his arguments, and one should…show more content…
In the text “Five Dialogues” Socrates states, “And is life worth living for us with that part of us corrupted that unjust action harms and just action benefits? Or do you think that part of us, whatever it is, that is concerned with justice, and injustice, is inferior to the body.” (50.) What he is trying to explain is that the the ‘part’ of the body, or more so the soul, is considered to be inferior to the rest of the body when it comes to what is just and unjust. Socrates explains that by him escaping he is ruining his body like a disease would ruin a body. With him being the type of philosopher he is, it would not be just for him to try to escape, and if he was to escape he would not be able to live with himself, and would rather die. Not only is Socrates saying it would corrupt his soul, but he’s also explains that just because an unjust act is cast upon us does not mean someone should retaliate back with an unjust act as well. For example, two wrongs don’t make a right. If someone If someone slaps your cheek, if you slap their check as well, then you’re both are hurt because both cheeks hurt. One should not commit an unjust act just because they have been wronged in the doing. The most important thing is to live the good and just life, because the just life is the good and beautiful…show more content…
By Socrates living in Athens all these, never leaving except when he travelled during the war. It is not the laws that are unjust, but the citizens of Athens who are unjust. In the book Socrates states “Then I state the next point,or rather I ask you: when one has come to an agreement that is with someone, should one fulfill it or cheat on it” (53.) This is one of Socrates arguments that I think was very unconvincing, but I’ll go into detail on that later in the paper. Continuing on with Socrates argument, Socrates claims that by him agreeing to the City’s laws, and is he attempts to escape not only would he be breaking that agreement, but he would also be harming the the people. He can’t disobey the judgement that has already been cast upon him, because he essentially agreed upon it. Socrates essentially believes the city would think he’s attempting to destroy the city, the laws, and all the people in the city (53). Socrates would be committing harm to the people, because he believes that by him committing an unjust act, it will follow to other people believing that they can do the same thing as well. Socrates says, he would rather abide by the verdict that was presented towards him, then to commit an unjust act and potential bring the city to a downfall, as he
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