Analysis Of Plato's Theory Of The Soul

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In book 4 of the Republic, Plato establishes, through the voice of Socrates, his theory of the soul and how it encourages a person to act in a just manner as a just person will always be better off. Plato contests that there are at least three clearly defined and separate parts of the soul. The three parts consist of desire, reason, and spirit. Each of these aspects of the souls has a function and a virtue, and it is when theses three parts act in harmony that a person behaves in a just manner. This assertion is in response to Glaucon, who claims that acting justly is only to one’s benefit if one is recognized for one’s just actions, and therefore there is no inherent value to the individual of acting justly. In contrast, Socrates contends that justice is good in itself, as a person’s soul is not in conflict when he or she is acting justly, and the person will therefore be in the condition he or she is meant to be in and happier for it. This theory of the soul and how it relates to justice is largely unconvincing, as it …show more content…

If any of these aspects is deficient in anyway, then the other aspects will overwhelm an individual, and cause the soul to be in conflict with itself (444-444B). For instance, if a person’s desire lacks the virtue of moderation, than the individual will forgo reason and act only in the interests of desire. To refer back to Leontius, his desire lacked moderation, which resulted in his spirit causing him to feel shame, and thus resulted in his soul being in turmoil (440). Socrates therefore asserts that justice is a result of the harmonizing of the three aspects of the soul. (443d-e) It can therefore be said that the virtue of justice, is the integrity and cooperation of each aspect of the soul, for if each part is performing its function and maintaining its virtue, then the soul will be in

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