Book I of The Republic is a dialogue on the nature of justice where Plato examines the fundamental

issue of the definition of justice and other virtues in the individual and the structure of society as a
whole. By proposing, critiquing, and rejecting numerous definitions of justice, Plato strives to define it
and determine whether it helps the individual. Socrates and Glaucon travel to Piraeus for a celebration
honoring the Thracian goddess Bendis (327a). They are escorted to the home of Polemarchus. Socrates
then proceeds to ask Cephalus, Polemarchus and Glaucon about justice, and they all had their
perspective about the subject. However, Socrates seems, almost constantly, to be advancing a different
conception of justice, he explained that he is in favor of the just life over the unjust life: the just man is
wise and good, whereas the unjust man is ignorant and bad; injustice causes internal disharmony, which
prevents effective action; virtue is excellence at a thing's function; and the just person lives a happier life
than the unjust person, because he performs the various functions of the human soul well. Socrates is
dissatisfied with the conversation because they need an adequate account of justice before they can
examine whether the just life is preferable than the unjust life.