Socrates on justice
Socrates (c. 470/469–399 BCE) approaches justice within Socratic philosophy. Socratic method is elenchus: cooperative yet relentless cross-examination that tests definitions and reveals contradiction in moral claims. He links virtue with a kind of knowledge and suggests that wrongdoing stems from ignorance rather than clear-eyed choice. On this page, the archive isolates English passages where that project meets justice most directly—useful for searches such as “socrates quotes on justice.”
How to use this page
Start with the shortest passage, then compare tone across sources. Return to the Socrates thinker page for biography and to the justice theme for other voices on the same question.
Frequently asked
What did Socrates say about justice?
The quotations below are the archive’s curated answer: English renderings selected for clarity and attribution, not a complete corpus.
Where else should I read after socrates on justice?
Related themes: Philosophy , Self , Knowledge , Freedom , Life , Wisdom .