plato on justice. historical background types of government tyranny
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Plato on JusticePlato on Justice
Historical BackgroundHistorical Background
Historical BackgroundHistorical Background
Types of GovernmentTypes of Government
TyrannyTyranny
Historical BackgroundHistorical Background
Types of GovernmentTypes of Government
TyrannyTyranny
OligarchyOligarchy
Historical BackgroundHistorical Background
Types of GovernmentTypes of Government
TyrannyTyranny
OligarchyOligarchy
DemocracyDemocracy
Historical BackgroundHistorical Background
DiagnosisDiagnosis
Types of GovernmentTypes of Government Characteristic FaultCharacteristic Fault
TyrannyTyranny
OligarchyOligarchy
DemocracyDemocracy
DiagnosisDiagnosis
Types of GovernmentTypes of Government Characteristic FaultCharacteristic Fault
TyrannyTyranny SelfishnessSelfishness
OligarchyOligarchy
DemocracyDemocracy
DiagnosisDiagnosis
Types of GovernmentTypes of Government Characteristic FaultCharacteristic Fault
TyrannyTyranny SelfishnessSelfishness
OligarchyOligarchy Group-interestGroup-interest
DemocracyDemocracy
DiagnosisDiagnosis
Types of GovernmentTypes of Government Characteristic FaultCharacteristic Fault
TyrannyTyranny SelfishnessSelfishness
OligarchyOligarchy Group-interestGroup-interest
SpartaSparta
DemocracyDemocracy
DiagnosisDiagnosis
SpartaSparta
Fear of serfs led to unityFear of serfs led to unity Extreme militarizationExtreme militarization Communal livingCommunal living IndoctrinationIndoctrination
DiagnosisDiagnosis
Types of GovernmentTypes of Government Characteristic FaultCharacteristic Fault
TyrannyTyranny SelfishnessSelfishness
OligarchyOligarchy Group-interestGroup-interest
SpartaSparta
DemocracyDemocracy Dilettantism & Dilettantism & BusybodinessBusybodiness
DiagnosisDiagnosis
Types of GovernmentTypes of Government Characteristic FaultCharacteristic Fault
TyrannyTyranny SelfishnessSelfishness
OligarchyOligarchy Group-interestGroup-interest
SpartaSparta
DemocracyDemocracy Dilettantism & Dilettantism & BusybodinessBusybodiness
AthensAthens
DiagnosisDiagnosis
SpartaSparta
Fear of serfs led to unityFear of serfs led to unity Extreme militarizationExtreme militarization Communal livingCommunal living IndoctrinationIndoctrination
AthensAthens
assignment of some offices assignment of some offices by lotby lot
Elections led to Elections led to demagoguerydemagoguery
Partisanship Partisanship Social disorderSocial disorder
DiagnosisDiagnosis
Failings are all plausibly kinds of injustice. Failings are all plausibly kinds of injustice.
Selfishness Selfishness Obviously unjust (by tradition), Obviously unjust (by tradition), Group-interest Group-interest A type of selfishness, A type of selfishness, Dilettantism Dilettantism Doing what you’re not cut out for. Doing what you’re not cut out for.
Being where you shouldn’t be and Being where you shouldn’t be and stopping stopping those who are better those who are better qualified from doing their qualified from doing their thing.thing.
BusybodinessBusybodiness Making your opinion count where it Making your opinion count where it isn’t isn’t qualified to function well qualified to function well
Putting your opinion where it has no Putting your opinion where it has no business business being.being.
What do they say Justice is?What do they say Justice is?
Cephalus and PolemarchusCephalus and Polemarchus
Justice is the art of returning good for good and evil for evil.Justice is the art of returning good for good and evil for evil.
What do they say Justice is?What do they say Justice is?
Cephalus and PolemarchusCephalus and Polemarchus
Justice is the art of returning good for good and evil for evil.Justice is the art of returning good for good and evil for evil.
the idea that the mere ability is itself justice.the idea that the mere ability is itself justice.
But: An ability is morally neutral and it can be used for J or But: An ability is morally neutral and it can be used for J or injustice.injustice.
the rule of tit-for-tat as a guide to justice. the rule of tit-for-tat as a guide to justice.
But: Tit-for-tat is only a guide to interpersonal relations But: Tit-for-tat is only a guide to interpersonal relations
What do they say Justice is?What do they say Justice is?
ThrasymachusThrasymachus
Justice is the interest of the strong.Justice is the interest of the strong.
What do they say Justice is?What do they say Justice is?
ThrasymachusThrasymachus
Justice is the interest of the strong.Justice is the interest of the strong.
The ruler or the state operates in its own interest.The ruler or the state operates in its own interest.
But: Plato argues that the proper role of a ruler is to aid the But: Plato argues that the proper role of a ruler is to aid the ruledruled
If J. is whatever you can get away with, then that applies to If J. is whatever you can get away with, then that applies to
everyone. The wise man therefore does the conventionally everyone. The wise man therefore does the conventionally ‘unjust’ thing‘unjust’ thing
But: Plato thinks he can prove that the wise man is just But: Plato thinks he can prove that the wise man is just because he will get a better outcome. (See because he will get a better outcome. (See Gorgias.Gorgias.))
The Three-part SoulThe Three-part Soul
RationalRational
reasoningreasoning
Appetitive Appetitive to do with desires and lower passionsto do with desires and lower passions
SpiritedSpirited
think of it as ‘honour’think of it as ‘honour’
The Three-part StateThe Three-part State
Soul PartSoul Part State SectorState Sector CitizensCitizens
RationalRational GovernmentGovernment GuardiansGuardians
Appetitive Appetitive EconomyEconomy WorkersWorkers
SpiritedSpirited MilitaryMilitarySoldiersSoldiers
The Three-part StateThe Three-part State
EconomyEconomy Suitable for those whose appetitive souls are strongestSuitable for those whose appetitive souls are strongest Specialisation is good for the state.Specialisation is good for the state.
The Three-part StateThe Three-part State
EconomyEconomy Suitable for those whose appetitive souls are strongestSuitable for those whose appetitive souls are strongest Specialisation is good for the state.Specialisation is good for the state.
MilitaryMilitary The spirited folkThe spirited folk A professional army is requiredA professional army is required
The Three-part StateThe Three-part State
EconomyEconomy Suitable for those whose appetitive souls are strongestSuitable for those whose appetitive souls are strongest Specialisation is good for the state.Specialisation is good for the state.
MilitaryMilitary The spirited folkThe spirited folk A professional army is requiredA professional army is required
GovernmentGovernment Choose those whose rational souls are strongestChoose those whose rational souls are strongest A mandarinateA mandarinate A Philosopher-KingA Philosopher-King
JusticeJustice
The proper rule for men to followThe proper rule for men to follow: :
A place for everyone and everyone in their placeA place for everyone and everyone in their place
CritiqueCritique
The proper rule for men to followThe proper rule for men to follow: :
A place for everyone and everyone in their placeA place for everyone and everyone in their place
Is a travesty of our idea of what justice really is.Is a travesty of our idea of what justice really is.
CritiqueCritique
Rigidity of class systemRigidity of class systemSuppression of individualitySuppression of individuality
Nor should the mind of anybody be habituated to letting him Nor should the mind of anybody be habituated to letting him do anything at all on his own initiative, neither out of zeal, do anything at all on his own initiative, neither out of zeal, nor even playfully. … And even in the smallest matters he nor even playfully. … And even in the smallest matters he should stand under leadership. For example, he should get should stand under leadership. For example, he should get up or move, or wash, or take his meals … only if he has been up or move, or wash, or take his meals … only if he has been told to do so.told to do so.
IndoctrinationIndoctrinationCommunity of women Community of women Deceit as a state policyDeceit as a state policyEtc.Etc.
CritiqueCritique
The ideal State looks like The ideal State looks like an even more totalitarian an even more totalitarian version of Spartaversion of Sparta
CritiqueCritique
It seems Plato had no time It seems Plato had no time for the vision of Athensfor the vision of Athens