Law and Justice among the Socratics: Contexts for Plato’s Republic

Abstract At the beginning of Republic 2 (358e–359b), Plato has Glaucon ascribe a social contract theory to Thrasymachus and ‘countless others’. This paper takes Glaucon’s description refer both within text Thrasymachus’ views, outside series works, most which have been lost, On Justice or Law . It examines what is likely be earliest surviving work that presents philosophical defence law justice against those who would prefer their opposites, Excellence by an anonymous author usually referred as ‘Anonymus Iamblichi’; views on these topics among Socratics, including Crito, Simon Cobbler, Aristippus Cyrene, Antisthenes; Socrates’ debate with Hippias ‘On Justice’ in Xenophon’s Memorabilia (4.4.5–25). Its main contention others’ points chiefly, but not solely, members circle Socrates, themselves espoused range law, relations.