In his R epublic, Plato offers a philosophical argument against the realism and cynicism of the sophists (represented in the person of Thrasymachus). This philosophical position – realism/cynicism – is presented by Plato as a corrupting influence in ancient Athens, and is summarized in Thrasymachuss belief that the unjust life lived in secret goes best.
You are to write an essay for or against Platos famous conclusion that the just or moral life always is the best life, even if lived in secret. First, explain what sophists such as Thrasymachus and Protagoras meant by such a provocative statement that the unjust life lived in secret is the best life. Second, drawing on specific examples from our chapter in Soccio on the archetype The Philosopher-King, carefully explain what you take to be the central points of Platos argument against the sophists. In other words, why does Plato think it is false that the unjust life is the best life, and how does he think he can prove such a thesis? Finally, be sure to raise at least two serious objections that someone who disagrees with your own conclusion might offer and respond to each objection in order to show why these objections fail.
