Plato Vs Hobbes Research Paper

How does a “just” society operate? What are the roles of the individuals? In the Republic, Plato constructs an ideal state to answer these questions. He concludes that a state is just when individuals perform the jobs they are good at which promotes unity and harmony. This portrayal of a perfect society does not bode well with Thomas Hobbes’ presentation of a “just” society. In Hobbes’ case, law enforcement is key to keep social order because man is innately selfish because of his desire for power. However, both Plato and Hobbes agree that a commonwealth needs to be lead by a sovereign, thus giving the origin of the state. But, the reasoning on why is distinctive for both philosophers. For Plato, it’s because man is naturally just and is selfless

Hobbes believes that man is driven by power, specifically, honor, worthiness, and dignity which is more materialistic in comparison to Plato who believes that we are inherently just. Here, Hobbes takes a more of a pessimistic approach in identifying human nature and it’s role in society. He states the three principal causes of quarrel as, “First, competition; secondly, diffidence; thirdly, glory.” These all driven by our desire for more. Hobbes ideal state deals with equality which is the root of problems, unlike Socrates’ hierarchal society. He states, “Nature hath made men so equal, in the faculties of the body and mind; as that though there be found one man sometimes manifestly stronger in body, or of quicker mind than another” which would ultimately lead to conflict “if any two men desire the same thing, which nevertheless they cannot both enjoy, they become enemies.” Without governance, men would live in “continual fear, and danger of violent death” and life would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” Men act of self-interest according to Hobbes, “jus natural, is the liberty each man hath, to use his own power, as he will himself, for the preservation of his own

It is a system in which men work together for the greater good of society and sacrifice happiness in doing so. This would be unlikely due to man’s desire for more that Hobbes was speaking about. According to Hobbes, “Without governance, men would live in “continual fear, and danger of violent death” and life would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” I agree to that and history has shown that. However, Plato would argue that that humans are incapable of running a democracy is due to his belief of specialization. Plato suggests that a commonwealth is essential for human survival because “no individual is self-sufficient.” In contrast his political system supports a hierarchy where the Guardians enforce justice and maintain a society. He believes that humans are guided by emotion and therefore a democratic society would not work because humans are “moved be self-interest” and “men do right only under compulsion.” In Plato’s society, the Guardian has to “be full of zeal to do whatever they believe is for the good of the commonwealth and never willing to act against its interest.” However, a democracy can still work with a system of checks and balances. Most countries follow Hobbes’ ideal state. According to Hobbes, justice and injustice do not exist in nature. This is because of our desire for more and power. In nature, conflict is constant. He states, “that during the time men