Socrates states that if one does not agree with the contract that you tacitly agreed to that one must either try and persuade the state to change or follow the rules that they have. Socrates tried to sway the court on his ruling and failed, he now feels obligated to follow through with the ruling and accept the punishment that he was given. He also realizes that if he did not like the rules and regulations of Athens that he had the choice to leave and reside in another city. Socrates knows that since he has lived in Athens for many years and benefited from the goods and services of Athens he feels obligated to give Athens his
Socrates compares the relationship between a citizen and a city to that of a child and a parent. Athens has nurtured Socrates in body and mind, given him an ideal environment to raise his own children in, to give him a platform to exhort people to be virtuous (Crito, 51a). As any child benefits from the protections and provisions of a parent, he must also obey the parent when it requires something of him. So, Socrates considers it his civic duty to obey Athens wishes since he has benefited from his citizenship. Socrates reaches a conclusion that defies a common-sense understanding of
Comparing Socrates words in the Republic for the philosopher to rule to the words of the Apology where philosophy is viewed as something that is punishable by death, this is where the defense or importance of philosophy is realized. For if the philosophers were the ones to rule, nobody would question whether or not what they were doing was right or wrong because the philosopher-kings make the rules through wisdom and knowledge. Plato wants to paint a portrait of the philosopher as not only something the city should want to have, but also as someone who would be fit to rule above all others. This contrasts, again, to the points made by the jurors to Socrates in the Apology for they saw Socrates as someone who brings the city
On the other hand, Erudite and Dauntless seem to take over the “government” as a whole. As Plato says in his writing The Republic “an ideal state is when each class may have to make sacrifices to achieve the greater good of society.” Plato stating this fits perfectly within the societal classes that the factions live in as well as the government that is created because of the actions taken by both factions together. Society in the movie as a whole embody the characteristics that are need to create an ideal state. There are three tiers in which create a well-balanced society, the Philosopher kings, soldiers and production/artisan class.
Book three addresses the type of education that should be taught in this ideal city, and the discussion moves from what it means to be just, to what it means to be courageous and moderate. Socrates ideas on the type of education that should be taught were unconventional for this time in Greek history. For instance, Socrates argued that certain pieces of literature ought to be censored if they promote weakness or disobedience. Correspondingly Socrates places a large emphasis on the role education plays in terms of contributing to the vitality of the city. Socrates contends that in order to have a just city, the city must develop just citizens, and the only way that is possible is through proper education of both the mind and the body.
He uses the example of ruling a city, where a government would change the rules and laws to best suit them, and as the rules are followed by those who act justly, the just would be acting in the favour of the stronger. Socrates objects to this and claims that humans will make mistake, as that is part of being human, and may
According to Socrates there are two types of justice, the political justice and the justice of a particular man. As we know, city is bigger than a man. Socrates believes that it is easier to find justice at the political level which means in the city, thus he tries to define a just city from scrap, and will see in which stage justice enters. Also, Socrates tries to find justice in the city before finding justice in the individuals because individuals are not at all self-sufficient. We humans have similar needs such as food, clothing and shelter and in order to accomplish these goals human beings form unions, where each and every individual specializes in a field.
Socrates’s whole general idea in his prosperous city,
Finally, reason and knowledge became the scientists and philosophers and these were known as “lovers of wisdom”. According to Plato just as a person must be restrained by knowledge and reason, so too must a society. This requirement for “lovers of wisdom” who would provide structure and guidance to the Republic gave way to Plato’s core concept of philosopher kings. This was an essential part of the Republic because according to Plato ‘entrusting the state to ruler without…knowledge would be turning it over to the blind’ (Klosko,
In his discussion over how the citizens should be educated and how to control their knowledge, the question of the ethical and realistic expectations of the city. However, the problem, or downfall, of Plato’s city is its foundation. A foundation of lies. Plato’s web of lies, falsehoods and manipulation make the entire city
In The Republic: Book 1 by Plato, the main argument and discussion being told is the definition of justice and the different perspectives and interpretations. One of the characters in the novel Thrasymachus, an angry guy who thinks everyone is wrong represents the original and analytical explanation. He defines justice as “the interest of the stronger” suggesting that power is correct. Thrasymachus believed that every person acts for themselves and attempts to get what they can but however only the toughest will get what they want. A popular example that portrays this understanding of the definition of justice is how a government serves the interest of its people.
Once they understand that their individual needs are inferior to the needs of the whole then the ideal city will be born. So if all members of society fulfill their duties then the only thing left is justice. Socrates solidifies his definition of justice when he says that justice is each person doing their own work. Socrates believes that not one person can reasonably provide themselves with all of the necessities for living, and therefore we as humans must form communities in order to survive. He says, "Make sure that the city is neither small nor seemingly great, but
The mores that one is instilled with is a complex concept to which we do not give much thought to in a day to day basis. In Plato’s The Republic, Plato dives into the inner workings of justice and other moral matters through the voice of Socrates, who serves as a character to give the reader a distinct perspective in the narrative. Throughout the text, Plato touches on many issues in Ancient Greek society in order to create a utopist city. Along the agenda, Plato emphasizes the quarrel of the rudimentary benefits of truth vs. lies, and which one of the two would conquer more with justice. In the transpiration of the debate, Plato convinces the reader that the truth is a closer fit to the principles of justice through a fallible initial argument, and analogical points, emphasizing the truth all the way from the tyrant to the slave.
In Book IV of Plato’s Republic, Socrates and his peers come to the conclusion that a city is going to need people who have an understanding of what justice should be. Socrates at the end of Book IV can make the difference between individual, political, and social justice. He knows that individual and political justice is so much in common because they both weigh in heavy on truth, honor, and appetitive soul. That appetitive soul is an element that helps the secure the just community with love and support.
Here leads me to believe that Plato through Socrates is verbally expressing that the people of the State depend on the correct choice of their future ruler and type of person this ruler is to be, so it is up to the prior ruler to make sure of the person they opt to rule properly. On the other hand, if a new leader is chosen infelicitously, or person who is fixated on nothing but making money and becoming rich off of their citizens backs and misfortunes, then once they take position, others like them are sure to follow and eventually the state would be in ruin. They would begin to lose focus of why they are in their position and would be warring with other nations. The citizens would become slaves for their rulers cause. The best way to choose
