Justice in Plato's Republic In Plato's Republic, he reveals the definition of justice. Plato believed that a ruler could not be entirely just unless he belonged to a just society. Plato did not believe in democracy, because it was democracy that killed Socrates, his beloved teacher who was a just man and a philosopher. He believed in the Guardians, or philosophers/rulers who ruled the state. We 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 that possesses it, this would make it easier to observe it in a single individual. We agreed that this greatest thing is a city…(Plato 96).” It is evident, therefore, 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 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 reason part, the irrational appetitive part, and the lively part. The rational corresponds to the rulers, the appetite corresponds to the artisans and the spirit 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 and a state. The rational part of the ruler is wise and therefore should rule over the other parts of the ruler. the mind. Socrates wonders, “…it is not appropriate for the rational part to rule, since it is truly wise and exercises foresight on behalf of the whole soul…(Plato 98).” In the......middle of the paper......the war between the three parts, an interference and meddling in the work of another, a rebellion of one part against the whole soul to govern it so inappropriate (Plato 100 ).”Plato's ideal ruler must have a good mind, always be sincere, have knowledge and discipline, and have no fear of death. In short, the ruler is a philosopher who fulfills the four virtues of wisdom, courage, moderation/self-control, and justice. Plato, however, overlooks the fact that everyone sins and does not mention this in the ideal state or ruler. However, the state and the sovereign were created primarily to better understand the meaning of justice and not to be able to practice it. Works Cited Marra, James L., Zelnick, Stephen C. and Mattson, Mark T. IH 51 Source Book: Plato, La Repubblica, pp. 77-106. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, Dubuque, Iowa, 1998.