Justice in Plato's RepublicIn Plato's Republic, he reveals the definition of justice. Plato believed that a ruler could not be completely just unless he lived in a society that was also just. Plato did not believe in democracy, because it was democracy that killed Socrates, his beloved teacher, just man and philosopher. He believed in the Guardians, or philosophers/rulers who ruled the state. One must examine what it means for a state to be just and what it means for a person to be just to truly understand the meaning of justice. According to Socrates, “…if we first tried to observe justice in something larger which possesses it, that would make it easier to observe it in a single individual. We have agreed that this greater thing is a city… (Plato 96). It is therefore evident that the state and the ruler described in Plato's Republic are clearly parallel to each other. There are three classes in the state and three parts of the mind in the ruler. The three classes of the state are the rulers, the soldiers and the artisans. The three parts of the mind are the rational or rational part, the irrational and appetitive part and the spiritual part. The rational corresponds to the leaders, the appetitive corresponds to the artisans and the fiery corresponds to the soldiers. Socrates then explains how the four virtues, wisdom, courage, moderation/self-control, and justice, play the same roles in a person as they do in a state. The rational part of the ruler is wise and therefore must rule over the other parts of the mind. Socrates asks: “…is it not appropriate that the rational part should rule, since it is truly wise and exercises its foresight on behalf of the whole soul… (Plato 98). » Middle of paper... a war between the three parts, an interference and execution of the work of others, a rebellion of one part against the whole soul in order to govern it improperly (Plato 100)." Plato's ideal ruler should have a good mind, always be honest, have knowledge and discipline, and not be afraid of death. In short, the ruler is a philosopher who satisfies the four virtues of wisdom, courage, moderation/self-control, and justice. Plato, however, overlooks the fact that everyone sins and fails to mention it in the ideal state or ruler. However, the state and the ruler were created primarily to better understand the meaning of justice and not so that it could be practiced. Works Cited Marra, James L., Zelnick, Stephen C. and Mattson, Mark T. IH 51 Source book: Plato, The Republic, pp. 77-106. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, Dubuque, Iowa, 1998.