Dialogues · Chapter
The Preamble explained
This chapter discusses the nature of justice and injustice, the motivations behind crimes (anger, pleasure, ignorance), and the role of law in remedying or punishing them.
What happens
This chapter discusses the nature of justice and injustice, the motivations behind crimes (anger, pleasure, ignorance), and the role of law in remedying or punishing them. It covers laws on homicide, the care of orphans, disinheritance, and the selection of citizens, emphasizing the importance of virtue, purification, and the foundation of a well-ordered state with 5,040 citizens.
Themes in this chapter
Justice and Injustice
Defines justice as the rule of the opinion of the best in soul or state, and injustice as the dominion of anger, fear, pleasure, and desire.
Law, Custom, and Legislation
Discusses the legislator's role in remedying injustice, punishing crimes, and establishing laws for homicide, orphans, and property disputes.
Education and Virtue
Emphasizes the life of virtue as more pleasurable and honorable than vice, and the need for rulers to be stronger than their half-educated subjects.
Key passages
“By injustice I mean the dominion of anger and fear, pleasure and pain, envy and desire, in the soul, whether doing harm or not: by justice I mean the rule of the opinion of the best, whether in states or individuals, extending to the whole of life”
Injustice is when anger, fear, pleasure, pain, envy, and desire rule the soul; justice is when the best opinion governs both states and individuals throughout life.
Defines the core concepts of justice and injustice in the soul and state.
“Let men fear, in the first place, the Gods above; secondly, the souls of the departed, who naturally care for their own descendants; thirdly, the aged living, who are quick to hear of any neglect of family duties, especially in the case of orphans.”
Men should fear the gods, the souls of the dead who watch over their descendants, and the living elderly who notice neglect of family duties, especially regarding orphans.
Emphasizes the religious and social motivations for caring for orphans.
“Goodwill is the only safe and enduring foundation of the political society; and upon this our city shall be built.”
The only secure and lasting basis for a political society is goodwill, and our city will be founded on this principle.
Highlights the importance of goodwill in building the ideal state.