ung men to accept his views. Although it is persuasive, the young men can still maintain a critical outlook. Comparisons of unlike things can be misleading, unfair, and can cause one to accept as true that which is false.Socrates now looks to find out whether justice is good or bad. Socrates is trying to determine the value of justice before he has defined justice. He does this to keep the attention of his young men because he knows the young grow weary of prolonged discussions. Socrates then begins to refute Thrasymachus’ claim that begin unjust is wise and good. Socrates compares the art of living well with the musician’s art. The musician has knowledge of music and in this way is better than the unmusical person. The musician does not want to be superior to or defeat others who share his knowledge; however, he only wants to be superior to the unmusical person. Socrates says the same is true of the just man; he wants to outdo the unjust man but not those of his kind, the just. On the other hand, the unjust man wants to be superior to those like himself and those unlike himself. The unjust man is selfish and seeks only his own advantage. Socrates says that people who are good and wise do not want to be superior to or get the better of those who are like themselves. Thrasymachus agrees with Socrates. Thus, he concedes that the unjust person cannot be good and wise. A strange argument, but a happy conclusion.Socrates then sets out to refute Thrasymachus’ next claim, that injustice is power. Socrates shows that injustice cannot be power because there is no loyalty among the unjust, no honor among thieves. Thrasymachus has to agree because based on his earlier statement that unjust people are selfish and so do not readily band together to achieve common goals. Continual dissension and hostility creates chaos, which is not the achievement gained by those who work together.Next to refute is Thrasymachus’ claim that th...
