As i read The Republic and hear what these philosophers have to say, all i can do--because it is my worldview--is think about if what they are saying is true in Christianity or if i can somehow use what their secular mouths are saying and help strengthen the argument for God's existence and power. Sorry if this offends anyone, but i feel so unbelievably motivated to write about this that i feel that i must. As they argue about what justice is, if justice or injustice is better, and how to be just, i can't help but wonder why they are asking these questions. Well, of course they are looking for answers, but they must feel a need to be just even though they desire to be unjust and selfish. It seems that this is a human characteristic and they seem to be checking with someone who seems to have the answers to life to see if they are allowed to be selfish. For me, as i see these people so long ago asking similar questions to what our culture asks today, i see that this must be a good question--an important one. And from my Christian worldview, Jesus asks us to take care of the poor and care for them. The Bible says that "...the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the poor" (Ps 140:12). Justice in a social sense, in a personal sense, and in a worldly sense seem to be very important in God's eyes.
Today, we see many people who perform injustices, but we see a number of people who perform justices. And it's usually these people who we see and love. We feel drawn to these types of people and sometimes wish we could be as "good" as they are. This is proof to me that we are all wired to be just people. I feel that God made us to be just towards one another. I feel that there is a government in place to keep justice and peace because that is when people are happiest.
There are many definitions of justice, but whenever it is the word "injustice" or "unjust," there are not normally positive associations. As a human race, we are made in the image of God, who is just.
These are just my thoughts on The Republic so far.
So many people today perform injustices; however, we do see many perform justice, also. These are usually the individuals we come to know and love. We feel like we are drawn to them and sometimes even desire to be more like them. Nevertheless, I feel like it is the governments place to keep justice and peace.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the people in The Repubic are looking for excuses to be unjust. I think it's more along the lines that they want to know why and what causes people to do unjust things or what has made someone unjust. What you said about others being drawn to people who are just and loving I think is true, which I believe to be part of the reason Socrates is looking for the answer of what it is.
ReplyDelete