Abstract

This careful and thorough study should lay to rest the charge that Plato allowed the individual no good of his own, but subordinated him entirely to the state. Virtue is within the reach of every man, not just the philosopher. Hall argues that the early Socratic dialogues show a progressive rejection of utilitarianism, and that Plato consistently maintained the position that virtue is valuable in itself. He persuasively draws on the distinction between knowledge and true opinion to show that there is a mutual dependence between justice in the state and in the individual. Finally he discusses the differences between Plato's rather restricted individualism and that of modern democratic theory.—R. J. W.