A noção de dikaiosýne: análise do Mito do Anel de Giges em Platão

Abstract

This work investigates the notion of justice, dikaiosýne, in the Republic of Plato through the analysis of the myth of Giges. Plato, in narrating the myth of Giges, exposes through his images the greatest injustice both in regard to the soul of the individual, psyché, and in regard to the city-state, pólis. Giges is the image of the tyrant, soon possesses the worst kind of soul, the tyrannical one, which reflects his political practice. Tyranny represents the greatest injustice. In making the analogy between psyché and pólis, we realized Plato's concern with ethics, politics, and the pedagogical training of citizens. Tyranny opposes the best soul and the best government that would be that of the philosopher-king. Plato uses the myth in a pedagogical, educational way, to provoke the reflection in the soul of individuals on the areté for excellence, the dikaiosýne. From the narrative of the greatest injustice, Plato goes on to make visible the maximum justice that should exist in the soul of the beautiful and good citizens and in his ideal city, the polytheia.