2,390 words
Part 3 of 7 (Part 1 here, Part 2 here, Part 4 here)
Alcibiades admits that he doesn’t know what justice is. But he thinks he’s found a way around Socrates’ objection, since politics doesn’t really deal with justice (dike). Instead, it deals with the expedient or advantageous (sympheronta). The just and the expedient are different things, since one can benefit from unjust acts and be harmed by just acts.
Socrates suggests the example of a man who suffers injury or death by risking his life to save his kinsmen or countryman in battle. This is a just and courageous act, even though one is harmed by it. Conversely, if one avoids injury or death by being cowardly, one is benefitted by injustice. Therefore, the just and the advantageous are different things. (more…)