The term justice is used in some of America's most valuable and valuable documents, from the Pledge of Allegiance to the Constitution and the Declaration of 'independence. Everyone wants to be treated fairly, whether in the courtroom or at the local bar. Most people would feel confident giving a definition of justice, but would it be a definition we could universally agree on? Since justice is a very common term and one that we all want, it is important to have a precise definition. For hundreds of years, philosophers have discussed, debated, and fought over this topic. Justice can clearly be defined as the intention to conform to truth and fairness. This is true justice. In Plato's "The Republic," Thrasymachus and Socrates debated the topic of justice. Thrasymachus seemed very sure of himself when he defined the idea. He asserted that justice was “nothing other than the interest of the strongest.” He asserts that because the rich and powerful create the laws and impose punishment for offense, we must then define justice as what the rich and powerful want. Socrates had a different idea on how to define justice. He seemed to define justice in terms of pure selflessness and a constant, unwavering desire to do what is right. He described a leader who makes decisions without regard for himself and only thinking of the best interest of the people under his rule. Thrasymachus expresses a harsh and negative view of society and those responsible, while Socrates describes an almost perfect human being. Both views are extreme; the answer must lie somewhere in the middle. Socrates' definition of justice would in fact be true if it could actually exist. I can imagine this righteous Socrates creating middle of paper......you will find many different types of justice, from distributive justice to retributive and compensatory justice. There are no different types of justice. You don't make an idea simpler by adding justice to it at the end. Justice is the intention to conform to truth and fairness. Justice is not an easy concept to define, and it can be even more difficult to pursue. However, it is society's responsibility to abide by the truth and seek justice in a fair and reasonable manner. If we clearly understand what justice is, we should also understand when justice is not applied. We must empower and set an example for the righteous, and redirect the unrighteous. We must strive to embody the definition Socrates used to describe justice, and while we will certainly not achieve this mythical justice, we can take comfort in the fact that through our righteous intentions we will achieve true justice...