2101 plato republic

8/10/2019 2101 Plato Republic

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Platos Republic

Unit 2: GreeceHonors 2101, Fall 2006

Bryan Benham


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Plato (429-348)

Student of Socrates Wrote Socratic Dialogues

Established first school: The Academy Teacher of Aristotle The Republic represents the 1st: political

treatise, educational reform, systematicpsychological and epistemological theory,aesthetics, and theory of virtue or the good(just) life.

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Structure of Republic

Elenchus

Main Argument

Digressions

I

II III IV

V VI VII

VIII IX

X


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Justice ( dikaiosune )Elenchus (Bk. I)

dialogue on conventional definitions of Justice.

Main Argument a response to challenge in Bk. II to (a) define

justice, and (b) show that justice is better thaninjustice.

Digressions provides a theory of knowledge/wisdom,

aesthetics, and afterlife in support of mainargument.


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Book I: 3 Definitions of Justice

Cephalus (327a-337d) Justice is honesty in word and deed or simply

paying ones debts and obligations. Polemarchus (331e-336a)

Justice is helping friends and harming enemies, orgiving everyone his due.

Thrasymachus (336b-354e) Justice is the interest of the strong (rulers) and is

less profitable than injustice.


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Book I: First Definition

Cephalus (327a-337d) Justice is honesty in word and deed or simply

paying ones debts and obligations.

Socrates Replies: imagine an angry friendwants his weapon back to harm anotherCephalus definition is inadequateneedfurther determination of justice (doing what isright)


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Book I: Second Definition

Polemarchus (331e-336a) Justice is helping friends and harming enemies, or

giving everyone his due.

Socrates Replies: difficult to determine whatis appropriate to each; it may be appropriateto be unjust at timesPs definition isinconsistent (never just to harm others?)


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Book I: Third Definition

Thrasymachus (336b-354e) Justice is the interest of the strong (rulers) and is

less profitable than injustice. A type of relativism or distortion of the just by the rulers. (a new golden rule = he with the gold makes the rules)

Cf. Melian Dialogue or Plague in Athens

Socrates Replies: (difficult) T suggests only ideology, not independent ethics But elenchus cant be employed if ideological Abandon the elenchus ?


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At this point

In Euthyphro Plato/Socrates rejects a divine justification for morality (piety).

In Republic , Bk. 1, Plato rejects conventionaldefinitions of morality (justice).

What is the alternative left to Plato?


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Book II: The Problem

Glaucon (& Adeimantus) argues justiceis only instrumentally good; that the lifeof the unjust is better, and only theappearance of justice is worthwhile.

Ring of Gyges (359b-360d)


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Book II: The Challenge

a) What is justice, if not merely theinterest of the powerful?

b) Show that the just life is intrinsicallyvaluable, and not just instrumentallyvaluable.


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Book II: Socrates Replies

Analogy with justice in the soul and justice in the city. (368c-e)

Two Principles of a City:1) No one is self-sufficient, need cooperation2) Individuals are naturally better/worse at

performing some task


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Organization of Cities

Since no one can do everything, individualsshould focus their energies in those areas forwhich they have a natural abilities. In this waythe city will best meet its needs.

Healthy City

City that meets all the basic needs withoutflourish. Luxurious City

City that meets all the basic needs plus someluxuries desired by citizens.


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Book III (n/a)

Education of the Guardians Happiness and Virtue (460b ff.)

Tripartite Division of the City (~412) Rulers* Guardians* (protectors of the city) Producers & Craftsmen

Myth of Metals (noble lie; ~414) Gold = rational Silver = spirited Iron = appetitive


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Book IV

Virtues of the Good City

Tripartite Soul

Virtues of the Soul

Justice in the Soul*


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Book IV:

Virtues of the Good CityWisdom

Knowledge and judgmentregarding how the city is bestserved.

Chief virtue of Rulers(& Guardians)

Courage Spirit (honor) tempered withreason, a type of perseverancein the face of fear.

Chief virtue ofGuardians(Auxillaries or Soldiers)

Moderation

(Sophrosune )

A type of harmony or orderbetween parts; an agreement

about who does what (e.g.,rulers rule)

A well ordered society.

Justice Doing ones work/role well, andnot doing someone elseswork/role.

An effect of properfunctioning


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Book IV

Tripartite Soul Just as in the city so too in the soul (434d)

Three Parts: Rational part: Reason, judgment, etc. Spirited part: Anger, ambition, courage, etc. Appetitive part: Desire for food, sex, comfort, etc.


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Book IV

Virtues of the SoulCity Virtue Soul

Rulers Wisdom Rational

Soldiers Courage Spirited

Producers &Craftsmen Appetitive

Justice?


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Book IV

Justice in the Soul Answer to 1st Challenge: What is justice, if not merely

the interest of the powerful?

By Analogy Just as justice in the city is each part performing its naturalrole, we should expect the soul to be just in the same way(434d ff.)

Justice in the soul is each part doing its function well.Rational part rules, spirited part motivates good action, andthe appetitive is to be ruled by the rational and spirited parts.Injustice in the soul amounts to civil war or revolution.


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Book VIII (n/a)

Different types of character in a city/soul andthe level of injustice in each:

AristocracyTimocracyOligarchyDemocracyTyranny

Best

Worst


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Book IX

The Just Life is Better Answer to 2nd Challenge

Three Demonstrations that justice is better.1. Unjust soul is wretched, unfree, slavish, fearful, etc. Thus, justice is most happy (576c, ff.)

2. Rational pursuits (life) have greater and longer lastingpleasure associated with it; spirited and appetitive

pleasures are only transitory (580d, ff.).3. A just person, ruled by reason, comes closer to truth and

knowledge, and so is better off -- truth is intrinsically goodbecause it is the most real (583b, ff).


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Main Argument Summary

Analogy between city and soul Parts

Virtues Justice

Questions Do you agree with the analogy? Do you think Plato is right about justice?


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Structure of Republic

Elenchus

Main Argument

Digressions

I

II III IV

V VI VII

VIII IX

X


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Books V, VI, VII(473d-521a)

Socrates has just laid out the organizationand virtues of the ideal city: Kallipolis

Glaucon and Adaimantus ask whether this isa dream or something possible: How isKallipolis possible?

Answer: What is needed are Philosopher-Kings


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Philosopher-Kings

Until philosophers rule as kings in their cities, or those who arenowadays called kings and leading men become genuine andadequate philosophers so that political power and philosophybecome thoroughly blended together, while the numerousnatures that now pursue either one exclusively are forciblyprevented from doing so, cities will have no rest from evils, mydear Glaucon, nor, I think, will the human race. And until thathappens, the same constitution we have now described in ourdiscussion will never be born to the extent that it can, or see thelight of the sun. It is this claim that has made me hesitate tospeak for so long. I say how very unbelievable it would sound,since it is difficult to accept that there can be no happiness,either public or private, in any other city.

(Repulbic , 474d)


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Philosophers vs. Others?

What distinguishes a philosopher fromothers?

Philosophers desire wisdom or truth inwhole, not merely in part; Genuine knowledge

Distinction between knowledge, belief,and ignorance


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Knowledge Belief Ignorance

What is; Being;always the same in all

respect

What is and what isnot; a mixture of both;

mere appearance

What is not

Philosophers Philodoxers Idiots?

Distinctions


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Knowledge of the Good

The philosophers nature, desiring the truth isconsistent with the type of nature we expectin a ruler - guided by knowledge of what isthe good.

Knowledge of the Good is the highest object

of knowledge.

Sun, Line, and Cave to illustrate


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Analogy of the Sun

The sun is the light that connects what is seen withthe seer; the one connects the many.


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Analogy of the Sun


Seen Seer


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Analogy of the Sun


Seen Seer

ONE(Definition)

MANY(Examples)

I d e

n t i f i e s


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Analogy of the Sun

SoKnowledge of the good is like this:

Without knowledge of the definition(sun), we would not know any of theexamples (seen); that is, we wouldnt beable to identify the examples.


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D

i v i d e d

L i n e

Form(1st Principle)

noesis:Understanding or

intellection

MathematicalObjects

dranoia: Thought

Original Objectsdoxa:

Belief, or trustand faith (pistis)

Shadows orreflections of

images

eikasia: Imagination

K n o w

l e d g e

O p i n

i o n

Intelligible

Sensible

(Visible)

(509d-511e)


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Divided Line

Levels of knowledge Highest levels are universal and intellectual

Removed from sensible world

Knowledge corresponds to degree of

reality More knowable = Closer to truth Closer to truth = More real (unchangeable)


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Allegory of the Cave(514a-521b)


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Cave = Line

Sun = FormObjects in world = mathematical objects

Objects behind wall = original objectsShadows on wall = imagination

Also:Model of education for

Philosopher-Kings


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Quick Flashback

A just person, ruled by reason, comes closerto truth and knowledge, and so is better off --

truth is intrinsically good because it is themost real (Book IX, 583b).

Knowing the form of the Good (the firstprinciples) is to know what is real(unchangeable) and so is not subject to thevagarities of mere beliefthus better off


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What discourages philosophers

from becoming kings?(487b-497a)

1. Masses dont appreciate philosophy( -ers)

2. Philosophers are feared and/or ridiculed3. Philosophers wouldnt risk the danger 4. Philosophers, once they know the truth, dont

want to return to worldly business5. And its just plain difficult to be a

philosopherthink of the educational programPlato lays out


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Book X (n/a)

Immortality of the Soul Knowledge is knowledge of the real

The real is incorruptible and thus immortal To know the real the soul must also be

incorruptible and thus immortal.

Myth of Er and mimesis Story about afterlife and reincarnation Choosing lots for ones next life


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Concluding Thoughts

Allegory of the Cave and levels of reality aremost influential ideas of Republic .

Do you agree with the image of knowledgedepicted in the allegory? Agree that the knowable is the most real?

Do you agree about philosopher-kings? Until philosophers rule as kingscities will have no rest from

evilsnor, I think, will the human race


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2101 plato republic

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