plato
The Republic is an examination of the "Good Life"; the harmony reached by applying pure reason and justice. The ideas and arguments of Plato center on the social settings of an ideal republic - those that lead each person to the most perfect possible life for him. Socrates was Plato's early mentor in real life. As a tribute to his teacher, Plato uses Socrates in several of his works and dialogues. Socrates moderates the discussion throughout, as Plato's mouthpiece. Through Socrates' powerful and brilliant questions and explanations on a series of topics, the reader comes to understand what Plato's model society would look like. The basic plan of the Republic is to draw an analogy between the operation of society as a whole and the life of any individual human being. In this paper I will present Plato’s argument that the soul is divides into three parts. I will examine what these parts are, and I will also explain his arguments behind this conclusion. Finally, I will describe how Plato relates the three parts of the soul to a city the different social classes within that city.
Plato supposed that people exhibit the same features, and perform the same functions that city-states do. Applying the analogy in this way presumes that each of us, like the state, is a complex whole made up of several distinct parts, each of which has its own proper role. But Plato argued that there is evidence of this in our everyday experience. When faced with choices about what to do, we commonly feel the tug of many different impulses drawing us in different directions all at once, and the most natural explanation for this situation is to distinguish between distinct elements of our selves.
In addition to the physical body, which Plato compares to the land, buildings, and other material resources of a city, Plato held that every human beings soul includes three parts. Plato said that One part of us thinks, another part of our soul does things, and another part of our soul desires things. He states that we cannot do all these with just one part of our soul, or as a whole soul. For example, If a man is standing in one place, moving his arms, and moving his head at the same time, then we would not say he is standing still and moving at the same time. However, we would say that his head is moving, while his arms are moving, and while his head is moving. This helps Plato present the idea that there may be one part of the soul functioning while another does. Plato presents the story of Leontius, the son of Aglian. One day Leontius walked by an execution, and saw a pile of dead bodies on the ground. When he saw them, part of him wanted to look at them, and part of him wanted to turn his head in disgust. Eventually, his inner appetite to look took over, and he looked at the bodies. He became very angry and yelled at the executioner. Plato explains that the anger sometimes makes war against the appetites. Sometimes, when these “inner wars” take place, we do not act rationally. The result was Leontius yelling at the executioner. Thus, the yelling was a result of his thinking about the dead bodies, having an appetite to look at them, and finally breaking down, looking at them and reacting in the way he did.(pg. 120) Thus, Plato argues that the human soul is divided into three parts, reason, desire, and emotion.
Here is Plato’s exact argument: Acceptance and pursuit of one thing are opposite to rejection and avoidance of that same thing (ln 437b). Appetite (e.g. hunger or thirst), willing, and wishing for a thing are acceptance and pursuit of that thing (ln 437b-c). Refusal, unwillingness, and non-appetite are rejection and avoidance of that thing (ln 437c). For example, sometimes we both have an appetite to drink and refuse to drink (439c). Therefore, since these states are opposites, they cannot belong to the same part of the soul, they must belong to different aspects of the soul (ln 439d). A person "must harmonize the three parts of himself
Plato and the Republic Plato was born into a wealthy Athenian family around 429 BC. So, he grew up during the Peloponnesian War (431 – 404 BC). Around the age of 20, Plato joined the circle of Socrates. Socrates did not conduct his philosophical inquiries through writing... ... but through engaging in dialogues with prominent Athenians, often in public places. We can imagine Plato watching on and sometimes participating in these conversations. In 404, when Athens was finally forced…
The topic of justice remains a debatable subject within the book The Republic of Plato. There are three definitions that have been discussed, including Thrasymachus a sophist whose view on justice is the "advantage of the strong", and Cephalus and Polemarchus' views on justice being "giving to each what is owed" or "helping friends and harming enemies". All of these views have been discussed and thoroughly debated, interestingly enough the majority of the commentary in the book consisted of Socrates…
Reflection on: the “Republic,” by Plato. Greek philosopher, Plato, is considered to be one of the most influential people in Western Philosophy. The fact that he was a student of Socrates and a teacher of Aristotle leaves no questions about his competence. One of his fundamental works is the “Republic”. Even though it was written in 380 BC, Plato’s and Socrates’s thoughts are still relevant in twenty first century. This paper will evaluate the quote from the “Republic” and provide a summary…
llegory Anthony Guerra Professor Neilson Philosophy & Ethics 14 October 2010 The Allegory of the Cave and The Matrix Book VII of The Republic begins with Socrates’ “Allegory of the Cave.” The purpose of this allegory is to “make an image of our nature in its education and want of education” in other words, it illustrates Socrates’ model of education. In addition, the allegory corresponds perfectly to the analogy of the divided line. However, this Cave Analogy is also an applicable theme…
The Despicable Content in Hip-Hop Music – Making Plato Turn in his Grave In a city where each individual is able to do as he pleases is a city that will be filled with murder, theft, gluttony, deviance and prejudice. Hip-Hop artists, in their music, constantly incorporate these aspects of life within the content of their lyrics. This content is not only described throughout their songs, but the lifestyle of being able to do such things is constantly being advocated. “F*ck the Police” and “Beat…
Haþim Cihan Demirköprülü, 20303433 Essay Question: Compare the Characteristics of the true guardians, as described by Plato (Republic, bk VII, pp.158 – 61, 484b – 487e) with the characteristics of the rulers, as described by Machiavelli (The Prince, ch.15, pp. 47 – 49 and ch. 18, pp.54f). What is the most important difference between the two accounts? In your view, which account is better, and why? For centuries, every ruler created their own principles and rules and somehow…
In the Republic IV Socrates purposes the argument that the soul has three parts and each corresponds to the parts of the ideal city. His argument is as follows, society should be divided into three distinct classes according to each individual’s natural abilities. (‘More plentiful goods are produced if each person does one thing for which he is naturally suited’1)The three groups which society will be organized into are the guardians, the auxiliaries and the producers. Three virtues are also established…
Machiavelli's criticism of Plato's The Republic states that a ruler who possesses an inherent quality of that which is consistently good will never have the authority to rule his or her people successfully. If a ruler always treats his subjects in a manner, which can be qualified as good, then he will ultimately meet his demise, as his subjects will rise against him. Machiavelli claims that it is unrealistic to assume that all the people of a kingdom will conduct themselves in a manner that will…
Ultimate Basis of Reality Plato, a philosopher that lived more than 2,400 years ago, has proven himself to be, as time has elapsed, one of the brightest men ever to inhabit the earth. Although it is not certain, it is believed that he was born a little over 400 years before Christ in ancient Greece. He was brought up in the home of a wealthy and influential family in Athens and his parents made sure that he got the best education money could buy. Before I discuss Plato further, it is critically important…
Introduction to Philosophy john doe PHI 100 Section 081 03/15/13 Spring 2013 PLATO’S THE REPUBLIC We as humans possess a very strong belief that moral righteousness and being just play a gigantic role in living a peaceful and harmonious life. It is in our best interest that we behave just. But we may ask ourselves the question why do we behave justly? Is it because we are afraid that we might become recipients of societal punishment? Or is it because we fear that we will…