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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.
QuickTime a nd aTIFF ( LZW) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
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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
The sun is the light that connects what is seen withthe seer; the one connects the many.
Seen Seer
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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.
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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