Due Fri 3/16 - The Republic Part 1 Section 2 pp. 8-15

1. In your opinion, is Polemarchus definition of justice, derived from the poet Simonedes, an improvement from his father’s definition?
In my opinion Polemarchus’ definition of Justice is derived from the poet Simonides. Because both talk about helping friends and harming enemies.
2. What is Simonides definition of justice? Has Polemarchus interpreted him correctly?
Simonides definition of justice is that justice is to benefit one’s friends and harm one’s enemies. I think that Polemarchus has interpreted Simonides correctly, because what Polemarchus’ definition of justice is to help friends and harm enemies basically what Simonides said.
3. What problem does Socrates see in the phrase, “helping one’s friends and harming ones enemies”? Why is this not an accurate definition of justice?
Socrates thinks that the phrase is wrong because what if your friends are actually your enemies and your enemies are your friends. Or that you picked the wrong friends because you never know who your true friends are and who your enemies are what if your enemies are good people, and that’s why that’s not a good definition of justice.