Page 5 - GROUP-2-E-Magazine

S O C R A T E S

E T H I C S V S

P O L I T I C S

From the point of view of Socrates, ethics and politics are closely
related. Excluding politics, ethics will have no value, and without ethics,
politics will become dangerous. "Political practice, like statecraft, is the
best of all ideals and makes men good politicians and public officials."

Socrates also discussed the concept of law. He divided law into
unwritten divine law and written human law. He cautioned us by
pointing out that there was no discrepancy between these two sets of
laws. Justice was the root of all the laws. If a law is not justified by
justice, it is useless. If anything is not approved by justice it cannot be
legal. To be precise, Socrates gave priority to justice in his thought
system and in this respect Socrates followed his predecessors.ocrates
dealt with a popular and at the same time important concept of
politics popularly known as allegiance to law. He devised the theory of
concord which means the citizens must show allegiance and
obedience to law. Interpreting Socrates’s allegiance to law, Xenophon,

Socrates dealt with a popular and at the same time important
concept of politics popularly known as allegiance to law. He devised
the theory of concord which means the citizens must show
allegiance and obedience to law. Interpreting Socrates’s allegiance
to law, Xenophon, the most reliable interpreter of Socrates’s view,

says—”A Republic that is obedient to laws is happy in peace and
invincible in war. Moreover, you know that concord is a great
happiness in a state.” Socrates admitted the diversities among the
citizens and differences of opinion. In his study of political and
metaphysical issues and problems, Socrates used the method of
dialectics, and in this regard he departed from the Sophists, who
systematically organized and then debated the various subjects. But

not withstanding they must unanimously obey the laws. He thought
that without unquali fied ‘obedience to law there could not be unity
and integrity in the Republic. His exaltation of law-abidingness did
not rule out the importance and necessity of criticism. Laws, not in
conformity with justice, might invite criticism. The definition of law

was also discussed by Socrates. He split the law into unwritten
divine law and written the law of man. He warned us that there was
no difference between these two sets of rules.