International Journal of Political Science and Development
 

International Journal of Political Science and Development

Vol. 5(2), pp. 45–49, March, 2017. 

DOI: 10.14662/IJPSD2017.006

ISSN: 2360-784X

Research Paper

Plato’s Notion of Justice in Understanding Order and Stability in Stratified Societies: a Study of India’s Experience

Dr. A. Ranjithkumar

*Post Doctoral Fellow, Dept of Political Science and Development Administration, Gandhigram Rural Institute – Deemed University, Gandhigram, Tamil Nadu – 624 302, E-Mail: ranjannmt@gmail.com

Accepted 31 March 2017

Social injustice is the major philosophical problem which is an important issue in politics, religion and society. In the context of globalization, the theory of justice is a problematic issue in contemporary states. The ideas of justice developed during ancient times especially around Athens led ancient political philosophers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle to theorize on the  concept of justice, democracy, virtue, rights, equality, liberty and ethics. These great political theorists provided the concept like nature law, humanity and society that led to the ideas like the public virtue, justice, hierarchy and participation for just social order. Plato’s work ‘The Republic’ is a scientific and systematic work in western states and the concept of justice deals with classes of society and division of labour. Plato’s notion of justice has been conceived from two perspectives the individual justice, which is a human virtue that makes a person self consistent and good; and  the social justice, which is a social consciousness  that makes a society internally harmonious and good. Therefore, Plato ideas and plans can be used to build a better and just society. Present study critically evaluates basic idea of social justice. Why Plato’s contribution to justice is neglected in contemporary world. And can his concept of justice be implemented in the present day society? Stressing upon on these quire, the study would therefore focus on the Plato’s cone of justice and its implications in India. This study is mainly concentrated theory of justice in the framework of globalization. The paper finds that Plato’s justice is an ideal concept of justice based on moral values which determines division of labour among three classes of the society and by concluding Plato’s concept of justice is not acceptable to modern democratic countries like India.

Keywords: Plato’s Justice, Just Social Order, Indian Caste System, Social Injustice, Divisions of Labour

Cite This Article As: Ranjithkumar A (2017). Plato’s Notion of Justice in Understanding Order and Stability in Stratified Societies: A Study of India’s Experience. Inter. J. Polit. Sci. Develop. 5(2): 45-49

FULL TEXT PDF