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Justice in Plato's Republic
Justice in Plato's Republic
Platos concept of justice
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Justice in Plato's Republic
Justice in Plato's Republic
Platos concept of justice
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Justice in Plato's Republic
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
In the seventh book of Plato's republic there are several important symbols that mean many different things. All these symbols are mostly from the descriptions of the cave in which it closely resembles a cinema. A cinema where people are shackled, forced to watch the images that are presented in front of them. They have no other alternative, their necks are shackled to forever watch these images. Images made of statues that cast a shadow from a ledge above moved by other people which I can only assume as their captors.
Plato: The Greater Part of the Stories Current Today We Shall Have to Reject This writing is about educating young minds and in a way that reaches an ideal society. In addition, it is important to educate the mind and character first, and then develop the body. Also, it is most important to monitor what is suitable and what is not suitable for our children. Even if a story that is ugly is true; it should not be repeated to young impressionable minds.
In the 4th and 5th century in Athens, Greece a new form of government arose. It was called a democracy. The word democracy derives from the words, demos meaning entire citizen body, and kratos which means rule. Compared to the other forms of government during this time it was very different. Instead of being ruled my emperors or the upper class, the democracy allowed all male citizens to have equal political rights, freedom of speech, and the opportunity to participate in their government.
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,
Plato’s Republic covers Socrates views on philosophy, government, and more. Several themes are explained in the Republic, including gender equality, philosophers as rulers, and even explaining the ideal city. But underneath all of that, lies one common thesis. The thesis that justice is worthwhile because it creates a healthy soul. This theme of justice is greatly explained in Books I-IV.
According to Socrates perspective, the democracy of Athens was corrupt and even though they courts were made in such a way that everyone was judged fairly, it wasn’t such because there were no rules or principles set forth. When a person was brought to court in the Athenian court and the person spoke against the jurors or offended them, he or she could be prosecuted based on that. In summary, judgment was passed based on emotion rather than on justice. In the Apology, Socrates stated, “my present request seems a just one, for you to pay no attention to my manner of speech-
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
I found one the most though-provoking aspects of Plato’s Republic was something that was emphasized in Ch. 4 of the Poetics of Fear a Human Response to Human Security where the philosopher must transform into a god link creature but simultaneously remain human. This idea reminds me of Machiavelli, where the Prince must look like a religious believer from the outside but can never fully be a religious believer in order to successfully govern. For Plato, the philosopher-king must become a god-like figure but must remember that his is not god himself. Essentially, the shield bearer cannot be fooled into believing the truths of the shield otherwise they lose the power to wield the shield successfully.
In Plato’s Republic, Socrates is on a mission to find out the true meaning of justice. He implores the same Socratic method that we are use to in order to help find this answer. On his journey to find the meaning of Justice, Socrates runs into Polemarchus. Polemarchus defines justice as, “to give to each what is owed to him” (p. 31).
Throughout Book II and Book III, Socrates argues repeatedly for the censorship of art, music, and stories. However, this censorship seems to be only in effect over the guardians rather than the general population. The commencement of the conversation about education and censorship illustrates this point with Socrates asking, “but how are we to bring [the guardians] up and educate [them]” (376c). Here, Socrates sets up the discussion that follows to be one pertaining to the education of the guardian class of Kallipolis specifically and not the rest of the population. Socrates expresses that, “[they] want the guardians of [their] city to think that it’s shameful to be easily provoked into hating one another,” so they, “mustn’t allow any stories about gods warring, fighting, or plotting against one another” (378b-c).
In The Republic, Plato writes about his thoughts on good, justice, and how we can achieve it. He starts off by stating that for human happiness and to live the best life philosopher-kings are needed. Not everyone can become a philosopher; certain people simply are non-philosophers also called lovers of sights and sounds. Plato makes the distinction between lovers of wisdom(philosophers) and lovers of sights and sounds clear using beauty as an example. Non-philosophers see ''fine tones and colours and forms and all the artificial products that are made out of them''(476b) but are unable to see or to understand absolute beauty.
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.
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.
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