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The Intelligent Troglodyte’s Guide to Plato’s Republic, 2016a

The Intelligent Troglodyte’s Guide to Plato’s Republic, 2016a

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95 Rewards from Gods and Human Beings<br />

See 612a-614a. Socrates has argued, at length, that justice in the soul is desirable<br />

for its own sake, so desirable that it is enough <strong>to</strong> bring a person happiness. But as<br />

people who love their jobs ordinarily receive payment for their work, people who<br />

are just are ordinarily rewarded out of appreciation for their virtue. So, for<br />

instance, “if a just man falls in<strong>to</strong> poverty or disease or some of the other things that<br />

seem bad, it will end well for him . . . surely the gods at least will never neglect<br />

anyone who eagerly wishes <strong>to</strong> become just and, by practicing virtue, <strong>to</strong> make<br />

himself as much like a god as a human being can.” Likewise, human beings<br />

generally reward just people (when recognized) with trust and respect, whereas<br />

unjust people (when recognized) are vilified and punished. Justice in the soul is<br />

therefore desirable for its consequences as well as for its own sake.<br />

Would the gods reward a virtuous person if the person, being just, were<br />

already happy? If so, what would be the point?<br />

How might a god reward a person who was already fully just? With<br />

friendship?<br />

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