‘JUSTICE IS THE ADVANTAGE OF THE STRONGER’: A SOCIOLOGICAL READING OF THRASYMACHUS’ THESIS IN PLATO’S REPUBLIC 1.338C1–347E3

Abstract

Thrasymachus’ thesis that ‘justice is the advantage of the stronger’ has been interpreted in three main ways: (1) sociologically, (2) prescriptively, and (3) as a definition of justice. In three sections, this paper focuses on (1) to advance the thesis’ sociological reach and applicability. But as claims that the thesis is incoherent threaten its explanatory and predictive power, Section One addresses that problem and shows that the thesis is neither elenctically nor definitionally incoherent. Section Two provides textual grounds for a sociological reading of the thesis, and Section Three indicates the thesis’ sociological capacity to explain human relationships.