By the end of Book I, the key themes of Republic have been introduced:
I The dialog will center on the question What is Justice?
II Justice is conceptualized as “The Virtue of a Soul”
III Why mightJustice be predicated on the interest/well-being of the other or the weaker, rather than on the interest/well-being of the self or the stronger.
Book II will begin to investigate whetheran ethically good disposition can benefit well-being. Recall Cephalus strongly alluded to this on p. 167 in his reflections on well-being and the absence of anxiety in the later years of life.
By the end of Book I:
Socrates has not answered the “What Is It” question (“What is Justice”). Socrates has only given a provisional answer deriving from analogies to the virtues of ship-captain, physician, etc. that we discussed on the 26th.
By the end of Book I, Socrates has arguably “refuted” Thrasymachus’s definition. At least, Socrates has nicely highlighted the slippage & inconsistency in Thrasymachus’s account of pure realpolitik. Socrates’s only goal in Book I is to get Thrasymachusto acknowledge that he doesn’t (fully) know what he thinks he knows. Doing this over and over again is what Socrates saw as his central mission or task in life.
Key tenet of Socratic thought:
One only acquires real knowledge (wisdom) incrementally, piece by piece. Each piece of wisdom is examined through a specific methodology:
Ask a What Is It question
Use the Elenchusto highlight opinions or beliefs masquerading as knowledge/wisdom
Engage in the dialectical method (“a dialog or discourse on” the question)
According to the Socratic method, the use of reason in pursuit of wisdom can begin only after we clear our mind of preconceived opinions, beliefs, and clutter. To “clear the decks” one must be aware of what one does not know.
Having introduced sufficient cognitive dissonance to undermine Thrasymachus’s sense of certainty, Thrasymachus falls silent. Perhaps Thrasymachus is somewhat embarrassed (as he blushed & sweated). Perhaps he has fallen into wonder – the proper state of mind for clear thinking.
At end of Book I, Socrates would have been content to call it a day and get ready for the evening chariot show honoring the new goddess.
But in Book II, GlauconAdeimentus entreat Socrates to actually answer the question, What is Justice. And to show how hisconception of Justice that rejects self-interested pursuit of advantage & poweris more beneficial/salutary to a person than a conception of justice predicated onself-interest & pursuit of power.