Plato's Gorgias: Interpretation of Strength and Justice

In Plato’s Gorgias Callicles states that “the stronger sort of man” can take advantage of the weaker. When he states this I believe he was talking about himself in general because in his eyes he saw himself as strong. He also states “Natural justice is that the better and wiser man should rule over and have more than the inferior.” He states it this way because Socrates gives him an example of how a slave can be stronger physically than his master, and therefore can be considered stronger and take advantage of his master, in which Callicles disagrees with. Thrasymachus states “…justice is nothing else than the interest of the strong…” which goes hand in hand with what Callicles states, and I believe they are both are in agreement towards the stronger being better. However, Thrasymachus believes in the benefit of the stronger “people” as in the society, because he states “stronger” while Callicles believes in the “stronger man.” Thrasymachus explains that the rules benefit the people, it is unjustly to just benefit oneself, but those are the people who can take over the people who act justly. To act just, is to sacrifice your desires, and be taken advantage of indefinitely.

First, Socrates disagrees with Thrasymachus “Craftsman” statement since all humans are bound to make mistakes.

Second he states that a person that acts so unjustly will be poor, and friendless. If he is poor he cannot satisfy his appetite, and the reason he is poor because he has such a large apatite that cannot be sated. He will be friendless, so there will be no one he can take advantage of, and he will be bound to satisfy his desires, which leaves him without any freedom or will of his own. With this argument in mind Socrates is stating that this unjustly person is not strong because he left miserable. Socrates argument is clever, and completely breaks down Thrasymachus’

argument.
Wolff includes this fragment of the Republic in his first chapter because it gives a respectable view on how Socrates thinks, and what Socrates believes to be imperative. The Socratic irony is that Socrates pretends he does not know anything, and repeats what Thrasymachus says constantly. Socrates continues correspondingly to give him complements on how Thrasymachus knows everything, and states he himself knows nothing. In the end he declares how he cannot outwit the man but in reality his argument crushed Thrasymachus and Socrates is always “10 moves ahead” of him. This reading gives you an ideal understanding on how a philosophers should argue. Socrates does not just argue to state his point but to understand the other’s idea, and in doing so he attempts to take that argument or idea and make the other party understand a deeper truth behind it. Arguments with philosophers are learning experiences, philosophers don’t argue just to be right but to enlighten instead.