---
title: "Plato's Conception of Justice in the Republic — Definition"
description: "Plato defines justice in the Republic as each class and soul-part doing its own work in harmony. Key for UPSC GS4 ethics—and distinct from justice as fairness."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/plato-republic-justice"
---

[New](https://modeldiplomat.com/)

#

Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Plato's conception of justice holds that justice is each part of the soul and city performing its proper function in harmony, producing structural order rather than mere rule-following.
- How does Plato define justice in the Republic?
- What is the city-soul analogy and why does Plato use it?
- How does Plato's justice differ from Rawls's justice as fairness?
- Why did Karl Popper criticise Plato's theory of justice?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

Plato's conception of justice holds that justice is each part of the soul and city performing its proper function in harmony, producing structural order rather than mere rule-following.

Go beyond the definition

## Research Plato's Conception of Justice in the Republic like a delegate

Model Diplomat's AI drafts position papers, speeches, and country research with real sources — built for MUN and politics students.

## Research it like a delegate

Research on modeldiplomat.com

## Ask a follow-up about Plato's Conception of Justice in the Republic

Open a cited briefing in Model Diplomat search — timelines, positions, and sources you can use in committee or exam answers.

[Start research on Plato's Conception of Justice in the Republic](https://modeldiplomat.com/search?q=Explain%20Plato%27s%20Conception%20of%20Justice%20in%20the%20Republic%20%E2%80%94%20key%20dates%2C%20actors%2C%20positions%2C%20and%20sources)

Example

In UPSC Civil Services Mains GS Paper IV, candidates routinely cite Plato's definition of justice as "doing one's own work" (oikeiopragia) when discussing the philosophical foundations of integrity and impartiality in public administration.

Keep learning

## Go deeper than the definition

[Explore all Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams lessons](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services)[Test yourself with a quiz](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/quiz/civil-services)

## Take Plato's Conception of Justice in the Republic beyond the glossary

Ask the AI research engine built for diplomacy — get briefings, position papers, and speeches with sources you can cite in committee.