Question

In the Republic, there is a discussion of three ways something can be considered good-i.e., there are three ways why or how something might be valued. What are the three ways, and what is an example of each? Of the three, which does ocrates consider to be the "highest" type of good? 

Answer 1

Three ways something might be valued or three goods are as follows:-

1). Intrinsic good, as suggested by it's name, is something that is valued for it's own sake, something that does not lead to some other good. For example, pleasure of reading a book etc.

2). Instrumental good again as suggested by it's name, is something that produces or leads to something desirable. Such as money, it has on it's own no such value but can be used to buy things that a person desires for example food, house which in turn give that person happiness.

3). This type of good is the combination of both intrinsic and instrumental nature. For example health which for it's own sake make people feel good about it and also leads to doing other works like working in order to persue higher pleasures and goals.

Socrates considered virtue that is good temperance, justice, courage to be the highest good. And he believed this to be the third type of good that is the combination of both intrinsic and instrumental good.