Sophists’ Naturalistic Concept of Man and Justice
Key Sources of Democracy
1. The Naturalistic Concept of Man and Justice
We know the idea that the Sophists had of justice mainly from Plato’s Republic. In essence, and what interests us here, the Sophists argued that if people practice righteousness, it is not because this is a good in itself, but for the benefits it brings them, in terms of reputation, honor, and material benefits. Behind this conception of justice, we can easily see an image of man as essentially passionate, moving, above all, looking to satisfy their desires. But as the goods that satisfy the desires of men are limited, there is a need for a “rational agreement,” each man to draw how far he can try to satisfy their desires, without colliding with the interests and wishes of his neighbor and finding it necessary to fight to protect themselves.
The laws and justice are seen, in this way, as an invention of the weak to defend themselves against the strong, and their biggest victory is to make the strong praise and teach them to love justice.
Plato criticized this. Is this a realistic or pessimistic view of the human condition? It depends on the viewpoint adopted. From the Platonic view, it is a reductive and impoverishing vision of man. From the point of view of the Sophists, it would simply be reality (at least as they see it). For Plato, it is obvious that there has been lost the possibility of participating in a higher and universal order.
For the Sophists, and also for modern man, man is the measure of all things: no external laws, at least on moral grounds, to be subjected to. He creates his own rules. No law or rule is immutable. Its sole function is to liberate the creative forces of man (or, to facilitate the construction of their dreams). Outside of man, nothing. God and religion—even—are a means to human fulfillment. When the time comes that they are useless for maintaining social order, they also disappear.
Notes
Sophist: Master of rhetoric that, in 5th century BC Greece, taught the art of analyzing the meanings of words as a means of education and influence on citizens.
Constitution: It is the fundamental rule, written or otherwise, of a sovereign state, established or accepted to govern it. The constitution sets limits and defines the relationship between state powers (powers that, in modern Western countries are defined as legislative, executive, and judicial) and between them and their citizens, thus establishing the basis for its government and organization of the institutions in which such powers are based. It also guarantees rights and freedoms to the people.
The autonomy statute holds as superior values freedom, equality, justice, and political pluralism for all Andalusians in a framework of equality and solidarity with other Spanish regions.
Spain becomes a social and democratic state of law which holds as superior values of its legal freedom, justice, equality and political pluralism.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another.
Articles
Article 1
- Spain is established as a social and democratic State, subject to the rule of law, which advocates freedom, justice, equality, and political pluralism as the highest values of its legal system.
- National sovereignty resides in the Spanish people, from whom the powers of the State emanate.
- The political form of the Spanish State is a parliamentary monarchy.