THE REPUBLIC OF PLATO - Studyplace
THE REPUBLIC OF PLATO - Studyplace
THE REPUBLIC OF PLATO - Studyplace
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I. 3SI] INJUSTICE A SOURCE <strong>OF</strong> WEAKNESS 35<br />
I am delighted with your answer, Thrasymachus; this IS much<br />
better than just nodding and shaking your head.<br />
It is all to oblige you.<br />
Thank you. Please add to your kindness by telling me whether<br />
any set of men-a state or an army or a band of robbers or thieves<br />
-who were acting together for some unjust purpose would be<br />
likely to succeed, if they were always trying to injure one another.<br />
Wouldn't they do better, if they did not<br />
Yes, they would.<br />
Because, of course, such injuries must set them quarrelling and<br />
hating each other. Only fair treatment can make men friendly and<br />
of one mind.<br />
Be it so, he said; I don't want to differ from you.<br />
Thank you once more, I replied. But don't you agree that, if<br />
injustice has this effect of implanting hatred wherever it exists, it<br />
must make any set of people, whether freemen or slaves, split into<br />
factions, at feud with one another and incapable of any joint<br />
action<br />
Yes.<br />
And so with any two individuals: injustice will set them at variance<br />
and make them enemies to each other as well as to everyone<br />
who is just.<br />
It will.<br />
And will it not keep its character and have the same effect, if it<br />
exists in a single person<br />
Let us suppose so.<br />
The effect being, apparently, wherever it occurs--in a state or a<br />
family or an army or anywhere else-to make united action impossible<br />
because of factions and quarrels, and moreover to set whatever<br />
it resides in at enmity with itself as well as with any opponent<br />
and with all who are just.<br />
Yes, certainly.<br />
Then I suppose it will produce the same natural results in an<br />
individual. He will have a divided mind and be incapable of action,<br />
for lack of singleness of purpose; and he will be at enmity<br />
with all who are just as well as with himself<br />
Yes,