Plato's Republic Book II: The Ring of Power

In this meeting we will discuss the second "book" really a chapter of Plato's "Republic". After the exit of the "defender of injustice" Thrasymachus, Socrates' inner circle of disciples express even stronger doubts about the basis of justice. Perhaps the most famous of these include the first example of the "Ring of Power" a la "Lord of the Rings" and the example of a hypothetical person who seems just like Jesus Christ - the most just person possible, who suffers the worst treatment possible including have a bad reputation as well as extreme physical torture. This section is also notable for being the most detailed criticism of then-existing religion at the time. Socrates claims that he cannot imagine rebutting such arguments but that he will nevertheless attempt it. In doing so he posits an analogy between justice as found in the individual soul and justice as found in the political community or "polis" from which the "Republic" gets its original Greek name.