To: Lucius Cornelius Sulla
"I assume that Plato has Socrates give an answer, one that Plato considered to be correct?"
At the core of this argument was a difference of opinion as to whether humans had a particular universal nature, or whether human values were wholly subjective and determined by that culture's "convention". Socrates opted for the former and made the argument that justice is "rendering what is due". Since we have a universal human nature that transcends the conventions of particular cultures, there is a standard of justice based on that nature. This argument is at the heart of Socratic/Platonic thought, all else is an elaboration of this point. Socrates whole career as a philosopher was dedicated to refuting the moral relativism of the Sophists.
25 posted on
01/30/2008 7:35:11 PM PST by
rob777
(Personal Responsibility is the Price of Freedom)
To: rob777; Alamo-Girl
Since we have a universal human nature that transcends the conventions of particular cultures, there is a standard of justice based on that nature. This argument is at the heart of Socratic/Platonic thought, all else is an elaboration of this point. Socrates whole career as a philosopher was dedicated to refuting the moral relativism of the Sophists. Well said, rob777.
32 posted on
01/31/2008 5:00:39 PM PST by
betty boop
(This country was founded on religious principles. Without God, there is no America. -- Ben Stein)
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