Plato

• Lived 428 BCE-347 BCE

• Athenian• Student of Socrates• Founded the

Academy• The Republic

considered first western work of political science

What influenced Plato to think about political

science?

Translate each excerpt from Plato’s Republic. Then, use your translations to explain how Plato believes authority

is formalized.

What does Plato say about human nature?

“We must infer that all things are produced more plentifully and easily and of a better quality when one man does one thing which is natural to him and does it at the right time, and leaves other things.”

What does Plato think defines a society?

“As we have many wants, and many persons are needed to supply them, one takes a helper for one purpose and another for another; and when these partners and helpers are gathered together in one habitation, the body of inhabitants is termed a State.”

What does Plato say should guide the society?

“All equally must do their own work in the best way. And thus the whole State will grow up in a noble order, and the several classes will receive the proportion of happiness which nature assigns to them.”

What does Plato say the goal of Formalized Authority is?

“Our aim in founding the State was not the disproportionate happiness of any one class, but the greatest happiness of the whole, we thought that in a State which is ordered with a view to the good of the whole we should be most likely to find Justice, and in the ill-ordered State injustice.”

Plato on how people formalize authority

• People are different; we all have natural talents and using them makes us happy

• People want to be happy but can’t be in nature because they have to provide for all of their needs

• People form societies so they can do the one thing they do best without worrying about anything else

• This society will make all people happy and is thus very fair

How does Plato believe authority should be

formalized?

Plato’s Conclusion

• Authority should be formalized as a socialist aristocracy.– Makes the people most happy– Is the most fair– Gets the most done

• Socialism: Everyone provides what they can to the society and is provided for by the society

• Aristocracy: Rule by a social class• Formal authorities should be those who are

best at providing justice (philosophers of course! Self-serving?)