Socrates Thumos Analysis

Our bodies harbor within themselves a city that resembles the just Polis that Socrates creates. Each of the three groups within this polis correlates to one of the three distinct parts of our soul. Our wisdom and logic parallels the guardians, the minority who calculatedly rules over the polis. Our desires compare with the ruled mass of society, being the largest in size but subversive to the wise minority. This leaves only one class of citizens, the auxiliaries. The protectors of the city correlate with what they describe as a wholly distinct part of the soul, “thumos.” Thumos is the ally of reason, when reason and desire are at odds. It is the part that will endure pains, suppress our desires, and bring to action the requests of reason. The

However, when there is no conflict between desire and reason, as seen in a modest soul, thumos does not make itself so distinct, nor does it always align with reason. Thumos, the supposed subordinate to reason, in times of balance, may not be so clearly differentiated from the desire. Is the anger we feel when we desire what we cannot have, or anger at those who have it, a different anger than the one derived from thumos? Or is thumos working with desires as well? Thumps is only distinct from the other two parts when it comes in the form of courage. When it is ignited into anger, those distinctions slowly fade, making the question if they are distinct less cut and

Courage and love, which is the strongest embodiment of Eros, can be definitively differentiated. There is a sense of glory that comes with courage; those who act courageously are held in high regard. Thumps, can bring honor and glory as it drives us to do great things in the face of adversity. Courage is used most to describe the thumos, which can when drawn out can yield magnificent results. We can and will endure terrible pains, and hardships, throwing away any desire we have for comfort, to fight for against the injustice that kindled our courage. It is only in conflict, war or friction between two groups that brings about courage. In these confrontational situations, between our desires and reason, courage creates great men of battle or history that we so highly esteem. In conflict, great warriors, pioneers and guardians are defined by their courage. This shows the sheer power of Thumos, the only other emotion coming close is love. Eros can drive us to endure extreme pains, and loneliness, but the distinction is Eros is for self-interest. Courage causes us to endure all this, not for a personal gain, but for justice, for the whole, to fight for what we know to be right. Thumos through courage, carries the power of Love, with the prestige of sacrificing our comfort for a greater good. Hence, Thumos is most directly related to the