2. Plato’s definition of Justice
 Plato believes that justice is just minding ones
business. He thinks that doing things for oneself is
justly.

3. Allegory of the Cave
Background
 The cave was where groups of prisoners were held.
They could only look ahead of them and were
blocked off from the reality of life. On the wall they
saw reflections of statues in which they thought was
reality. Since they could only look ahead they never
saw the fire behind them and the wall behind the
fire. Later, a prisoner is set free. He then sees the
statues knowing that they are more real then their
reflections. He is then let out of the cave and sees
true, real things. When the prisoner sees all of the
“real” things he reaches understanding.

4. Quote to Support Cave
 ‘“Imagine further that there are men carrying all
sorts of gear along behind the curtain-
wall, projecting above it and including figures of men
and animals made of wood and stone and all sorts of
other materials, and that some of these men, as you
would expect, are talking and some not’” (Plato 241
514a).
 ‘“Because, of course, he would need to grow
accustomed to the light before he could see things
in the upper world outside the cave’” (Plato 242
516a).

5. Justice Relating to Cave
 Plato’s definition of justice relates to the cave. The
prisoners in the cave are staring at these reflections.
They are not worrying about anyone or anything
else. They are “minding ones business”. Showing
the Allegory of the Cave gives great support to
Plato’s definition of justice. The prisoners are living
justly in Plato’s eyes. Then when the one prisoner is
let out, he starts to wonder what reality is, he
therefore, is no longer just.

6. Wisdom vs. Justice
 Going off of Plato’s definition, one cannot be wise
and just. To gain wisdom one must explore and
grow. But if one wants to be just they must not
learn about anything but what is theirs. One cannot
be wise and just. If one wants to be wise they must
not be just, and if one wants to be just they cannot
be wise.

7. Self - Examination
 I think what Plato is getting out of justice is that one
must live for themselves. They cannot always be
living for what if’s. In a way justice would hold
someone back from what is real. Or they would just
have a different sense of reality. Plato’s definition
allows me to realize how much everyone in society
takes time to compete and compare themselves to
everyone else in society. I think justice can help
people if they allow it, but it can also hurt others as
well by not exposing people to everything.