Plato's Republic

In Plato’s Republic, Plato talks about how government is created. He states that the world has two kings of people, just and unjust. Plato claims that “ They say that to do injustice, by nature, good; to suffer injustice, evil” (Plato). To him, government is a compromise and men agree to follow its laws and if men do as they are suppose to then there will be no problems. Man agree on what’s lawful and what’s not, then have someone to ensure that it is carried out. Unjust people, who do unjust things, will face judgment and punished accordingly. Plato goes on to tell the story “ The Ring of Gyges”; which, in short, explains that people when given the opportunity to injustice and get away with it will. Those who have the opportunity and do not act on it will be called “ a most wretched idiot” (Plato), as to provoke injustice in those of justice. Plato goes on to say, ” let judgment be given which of them is the happier of the two.”

This is a great work on government and its origin. One thing it is missing is to what extent do the laws made control what is to be done by a human; with the laws, humans can sleep easy knowing that there possessions will go untouched by others. When an injustice person does break these laws they should be punished. This in turn will keep things in balance. That is what I think that government should do, balance. To protect the just and punish the unjust.

Plato. Plato’s Republic. Book II. 308 B.C.. Print.