d in itself or only when one is forced to be just. This problem is exemplified in the story of the Ring of Gyges. This ring allows a person to become invisible whenever he chooses and thus if any just man were put in the position with the ring and could act unjustly without being caught, he would use it to his benefit. And this Glaucon claims ‘ is great proof that one is never just willingly but only when compelled to be’ This is similar to Hobbes’ notion that a man must fulfill a covenant because he is bound by society to do so. Plato begins refuting Glaucon’s claim that people are only just when compelled to be by showing that people will eventually come to act justly. This is because people having suffered injustices, will agree not to commit or suffer any more injustices. Plato asserts that laws arise that make it favourable at times to be just. His reasoning for this is that the damage of being treated unjustly is less than the benefits of treating someone else unjustly. This is due to the fact that in society, the weak normally suffer more injustice and want to prevent injustice altogether. Glaucon then continues by outlining two men, one perfectly unjust and the other perfectly just. He describes the unjust man with certain distinct characteristics such as, the pursuit of self-interest and the disregard of others and outlines the benefits that unjust a man receives from his actions. Glaucon also depicts the just man with the characteristics of being good and noble. He then tests the just man, by depriving him of all the benefits that man receives from being just such as honour and reputation. . Plato now has the challenge of proving that the just man is better off the unjust man because justice is good in itself.Plato discusses how justice in the city, will allow us to see justice in the individual. The city is introduced to provide human needs because individuals are not self-sufficient. He identi...
