Socrates describes the Democratic city as “something multicolored”: “…it looks as though this is the finest or most beautiful of the constitutions, for, like a coat embroidered with every kind of character type, would seem to be most beautiful” [Notice that I have italicized some words in this quote

At 557c Socrates describes the Democratic city as “something multicolored”: “…it looks as though this is the finest or most beautiful of the constitutions, for, like a coat embroidered with every kind of character type, would seem to be most beautiful” [Notice that I have italicized some words in this quote. That’s a hint to read carefully. To say that something “looks as though…” or that something “seems” to be the best or most beautiful is not to say that something is the best or most beautiful].

Now, just like all of the other constitutions – that is, the Aristocratic (which was discussed in Book IV the way the other constitutions are discussed in Books VIII & IX, giving an account of both the city and then the soul), Timocratic, Oligarchic and the Tyrannical – the Democratic soul is mirrored in the democratic city. So, what I want you to do is briefly describe Socrates’s account of the life of the democratic soul (not the city, the soul); that is, describe how he or she lives, what he or she spends his or her time doing, and most importantly how he or she distinguishes good from bad, just from unjust (if these distinctions are even made at all, as that is always an option too). Finally, based on your analysis, which life is just (or most just), the Aristocratic life or the Democratic life and why? [Answering this last question will require you to actually compare the two souls, which will require you to say some things about how the Aristocratic soul lives and distinguishes good from bad, just from unjust. Failing to do this would make the comparison unfair (and fairness is a part of justice right?!)] As always, explain/defend your answer.