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Plato Study Guide

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PLATO Who is Plato?  Born as Aristocles later on named as ‘Plato’  Plato was a well-known Greek Philosopher  He was born in Athens, Greece around the years 427-428 BCE  He was the student of another well-known historical figure, Socrates and taught Aristotle another yet well-known historical figure.  He founded the Academy in Athens and it was considered as the first University in Europe The Republic  Written by Plato around the year 380 BC  A Socratic dialogue between Socrates being the narrator, Glaucon, Adeimantus, Polemarchus, Cephalus, Thrasymachus, Cleitophon and Plato himself.  Defines Justice, the order of the state, and man  Ideal Society  The search after Justice CONTENTS: 1. Nature and Origin of the State 2. The Virtues …show more content…

The Greeks experienced haven under Democracy however, it was not deemed effective after some time and once again, oppression became prevalent. The people were incapable of Governing and preserving themselves. So Plato came up with the ideal society. According to him, the ideal society must make justice as its main foundation to cure the evil in the society. Where there is Justice, there would be peace and order. NATURE AND ORIGIN OF THE STATE  Justice as being the main foundation of a society. Plato’s theory of justice differed from other Greek Philosophers of his time.  In the Republic, the characters each had their different views on Justice:  According to Cephalus, Justice is all about repaying debts.  According to Polemarchus, Justice is returning what is owed.  According the Thrasymachus Justice is the rule of the mighty. Plato uses the human soul as the basis for justice. Where in a human soul there is the Appetitive, spiritual, and rational and the three works together to create balance. This is then in connection to the origin of the State in which according to Plato: That the state is formed to cater the needs of man for man cannot provide for themselves alone and man needs society to …show more content…

The Philosopher-Ruler Philosopher king is an idea in which best form of government in which philosopher rule was driven from Plato’s work The Republic. In this, Plato argues that Philosopher kings, philosophers who possess much knowledge, should be the ruler for the purpose of having an ideal city, a just city, and an organized city where people residing lives in order. Philosophers should also rule the city for they know the truth better than anyone else. Abolition of family and Equality of Women They (Socrates and Adaimantus) were differentiating females to males. The physical aspects, their nature, what kind of job males and females respectively should be assigned. Females will be receiving the same education and will be trained along with the males. Marriages then are held secretly at marriage festivals. It is arranged by the ruler. It is designed to produce the best children. But once the children are produced, they are immediately taught what justice is and how to be a guardian or laborer. When an offspring is produced, parents pass their legacy to the upcoming generation and this generation will determine the city’s failure or success. Loyalty to the city weighs heavier than loyalty to a

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In the Republic, Plato confers with other philosophers about the true definition of justice. Cephalus, Polemarchus, and Thrasymachus relay their theories on justice to Plato, when he inquires as to what justice is. Cephalus believes only speaking the truth and paying one’s debts is the correct definition of justice (The Republic, Book I). However, Plato refutes this with an example of a friend who has lost his wits and would be caused harm by repayment of a debt. This leads to Polemarchus’ view on justice, doing harm to one’s enemies and helping one’s friends.

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In book I, Socrates asked three different Athenians what they perceived as justice. Cephalus who represented the old elite of Athens stated, “ we so simply assert that it [justice] is the truth and giving back what a man has taken from another.” Polemarchus who represented the young ambitious politician expanded on Cephalus’ idea by saying that justice is, “That it is just to give to each what is owed.” Finally, Thrasymachus who represented the sophists of Athens, said, “And see to it you don’t tell me that it [justice] is the needful, or the helpful, or the profitable, or the gainful, or the advantageous.” All three definitions of justice are wrong according to Socrates, but each true as a convention and not a true form of justice.

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Socrates’s whole general idea in his prosperous city,

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In Plato’s The Republic” written in 380 BC, Plato introduces two characters Polemarchus and Thrasymachus who hold two separate opinions on Justice. They both are made to give their own opinions on Justice by Socrates. Both standpoints accurately represent Justice in sirtain situations. The word justice can be represented in many ways because it holds a broad meaning. They are covering two completely different aspects of Justice.

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1177 Words | 5 Pages

Plato an ancient Greek philosopher, whose philosophical work influenced the founding of western thought. Born in 427 B.C in the town of Athens, during the time of the Peloponnesian War Plato witness the collapse of Athenian democracy and emergence of an Oligarchy, establish by the Spartan. The repressive system of government was known as the “the thirty” the thirty were elected officials who managed all of Athens affairs. However, the end result of the thirty was repressive governing for the Athenian people who were accustom to democracy. This was one major event, that had a profound impact on Plato life, due to the unjust ruling placed upon the Athenian people, by 403 B.C democracy was restored once again and Plato had an interest in politics,

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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

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Justice in opposite points of view Plato tries to describe what justice is in reality by the different characters ' points of view in his book “The Republic”. In “The Republic” the characters, such Socrates, Thrasymachus, Glaucon, Cephalus, Adeimantus, Polemarchus give their opinion about justice. The people in the Just city are divided into 3 groups: gold, silver and bronze that means ruler part, guardian part and labor part of citizens. Thrasymachus says that justice is the advantage of the stronger, but Socrates argues that justice is being honest and do own role in society.

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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.

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There are many differentiates between America and China in diet, lifestyle. First of all, there are many differentiates in diet. American like eat fried foods such as: burgers, pizza, fries etc. Opposite, Chinese people like cooking. Different types of vegetables to cook together, while Americans like to eat raw vegetables, such as salad.

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Plato believed that politics served as only a guide for statesmen, people of high prominence who are wise, skillful, and proficient in the principles of government, which essentially made him an elitist. Plato’s main objective was to create a perfect society, a utopia. In Plato’s utopian society, he promotes class systems that have their own goals and objectives. The highest level consists of those who are the society’s policy makers and they have the responsibility of being wise and good rulers. The select few who know what is best for society.

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Plato regarded justice as the true principle of social life. Plato in his day found a lot of evil in society. He saw unrighteousness rampant and injustice enthroned.

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Plato’s republic aims to describe a just state, and in turn a just individual consistently throughout the text. By analogising the justice of the state and the justice of the individual, Plato attempts to demonstrate that a just society will breed just individuals. However, there are certain loop holes within his thought process that can lead one to wonder whether or not his ideas are pragmatic, and could function within a real societal structure- and if human beings given their inherently selfish nature, can adopt the traits necessary in order to achieve justice and the ideal state described in the Republic. Plato described the human soul as a “tripartite soul” where three main qualities seen in the human being, will also be reflected in the three classes of the ideal state. Reason is the highest of the three main qualities, and it forms the class of rulers and guardians.

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832 Words | 4 Pages

I believe that Plato believes that people are inherently good and they will do what is morally right and just for society. They will earn their right to power and ensure fairness for all to prevent the tyrants from trying to take control. Plato mentions three main arguments regarding

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In Plato’s Republic, Socrates and his peers attempt to define justice. Unlike the definitions that his peers give, Socrates is searching to define justice as a structure, not a set of behaviors. Socrates uses a tripartite city-soul analogy to define justice and show that it is found when there is harmony between the three parts of the city—guardians, auxiliaries, producers—mirrored to the three parts of the soul—reason, spirit, appetite. Although Socrates provides a well-structured account of justice in an attempt to demonstrate that there cannot be social justice—in the city—if people don’t first bring internal justice—in the soul—in themselves, he has a notable contradiction in his premises. In Socrates’ ideal city it is a necessary condition of an auxiliary acting in a just way that he must cause any producers who get out of hand, or

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This ideology will be addressed in the essay with substantiated reasons on why Plato thought that philosophers should rule. 1.1 DEFINITIONS OF KEY TERMS 2 PLATO BIOGRAPHY Plato was born around the year 428 BCE in Athens. Plato 's birth name was Aristocles, and he gained the nickname Platon, meaning broad, because of his broad build. His family had a history in politics, and Plato was destined to a life in keeping with this history. He studied at a gymnasium owned by Dionysios, and at the palaistra of Ariston of Argos.

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