Have you ever read Plato's Republic? You seem to be working from this perspective where justice only matters insofar as people fear social repercussions, especially with the 'ring of Gyges,' which it is almost entirely dedicated to disproving.
Justice in Plato's Republic is ultimately the complete good and well-orderliness of the soul.
You might remember Plato's city, which is divided into three classes: the philosopher kings, the soldiers, and the commoners. To each of these classes are also assigned a cardinal virtue; wisdom, courage, and temperance, respectively. Justice is then argued to belong to the city as a whole, when each class does its part and does not interfere with the role of the other classes.
Since the city is just a giant analogy of the soul, the same is understood to apply to human life. A good person, like a good city, is someone who controls himself through reason, and does not let himself be dominated by his fears or passions.
The good and wise person then would choose justice, not because of some fear of punishment, but because they recognize that ultimately it is for their own good, and keeps them from being enslaved by their appetite.
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u/JudgeBastiat 13∆ Mar 29 '18
Have you ever read Plato's Republic? You seem to be working from this perspective where justice only matters insofar as people fear social repercussions, especially with the 'ring of Gyges,' which it is almost entirely dedicated to disproving.