How is Socrates' definition of justice still evident in today's society?

Question

I'd prefer to read opinions, not paraphrased articles thankyou.

Answer 1

In Plato's apology we see Socrates who decides to die for his beliefs. He could run away, his friends have prepared his escape, but instead he stays. He drinks the poison to show the world that justice is not that of the many (those who have condemned him - the democracy of Athens), but it can be that of the one against the many. It is relevant because nowadays many think that since we live in democracy justice is guaranteed by laws that the many have chosen. It is not so: some laws are unjust, the many can be wrong. One has to stand up against unjustice in a peaceful but assertive way as Socrate did and as M.L. King did.
Hope this is of help.

Answer 2

Socrates viewed justice as one of the many "ideal forms" in which he believed. Similarly, today we view justice as an overarching ideal to which government, the courts, and the laws we pass ought to aspire. There is a concept of justice being blind and perfect in modern society that reflects Socratic idealism, and yet his critics and modern cynics will always point out the infallibility of justice in practice. I, too, am not so much an idealist, but I think we can identify various degrees of justice with a fair degree of ease.

Answer 3

There is no justice in the world.

The good people of society have become so fragmented and easily brain washed that justice no longer exists.

All the laws put in place in the last several years have been put in place to make crime lawful.

If a law stands in some ones way they only need enough money to rewrite the law.

Answer 4

We only have the words of Plato to describe Socrates. From Plato, we learn little if anything about the beliefs of Socrates. The only thing that we learn about him is that we should examine each and every one of our beliefs and try to formulate our individual belief structure and use it to take ourselves to the next level of happiness both here on earth and in the next.

Answer 5

You wanted an opinion, here's mine. Socrates said "What is lawful is just". I don't necessarily agree with that. Just because you do something that's legal doesn't necessarily make it "just". Executions are legal in some states, that doesn't necessarily make them just. There are some old laws on the books, if they were to be enforced they would not necessarily be just.

Thank you for the interesting question.