ipl-logo

Taking A Look At Plato's Republic

1240 Words5 Pages

Plato’s Republic explores a significant notion of Western philosophy regarding the definition of justice. Through the character of Socrates, Plato is able to begin his description of justice with an analogy of the ideal city referred to as Kallipolis, the Greek term for “noble city” (Reeve xiii), which is ruled by philosophers, the wisest and virtuous of individuals. However, one central argument of the Republic revolves around the perception that women are equally suited to become rulers of the city when provided with equivalent education and training opportunities as men. Although this proposition may have been perceived as radical during the fourth century BC when patriarchal Athens was at the height of its democracy, Plato is able to vindicate …show more content…

This notion concerns the requirement that each individual must execute a role in society of which his or her nature is most suited for (Rep: II, 374e). The three primary roles identified include producers who carry out the day to day functions of society, auxiliaries who defend the city, and guardians who rule the city (Rep: III, 414b). Specialization becomes a foundational principle of virtue which Plato acknowledges as the source of justice in a state. It becomes evident that women are also incorporated under this general formula when Socrates explains to Glaucon that guardians are the best citizens in society without mention of any masculine figures (Rep: III, 412c). This depicts Plato’s theory of virtue as …show more content…

In order to become virtuous, men and women must carry out their roles that are best suited for their nature. If their nature adheres to that of guardians, both men and women must partake in the management of the city including jury duty and policy making (Mawhinney: Defense of Justice, Oct 1). Consequently, in order for both genders to be virtuous and to take up parallel political roles, they must be educated and reared in parallel ways. For Plato, both men and women must be taught the same course of studies listed in Book VI including dialect and mathematics in order to become

Show More
Related
1172 Words | 5 Pages

The chapter, “Women and the City of Athens”, matters because it shows that women are still facing the same inequality as seen thousands of years ago in ancient

Read More
564 Words | 3 Pages

Molly Plenge Professor Mann WHO 1012 02 October 2017 Hypocrisy in Athens According to Plato, the four virtues that make up the perfect state are courage, wisdom, justice, and moderation. All are classic examples of how hippocratic the Athenian democracy was; but the most deceiving virtue would be justice. The Athenians took pride in their established democracy, where all men were created equal. This of course, doesn’t apply to the thousands of slaves, foreign born residents, and women.

Read More
1190 Words | 5 Pages

Targeting Socrates' position regarding gender equality and Guardians' Offspring in book V and discussing why his views would not be applicable in our time In book V of Plato's Republic, I would like to emphasize on some of the claims that the character Socrates makes when talking about the differences amongst individuals, as well as the group differences between both sexes - males and females. He manages to defend his position that men and women should be equal quite persuasively and it does not seem as if there is something problematic about it. However, his way of seeing the Just City in some aspects is not only absurd to me, but also quite contradicting with the concept of ultimate justice. I do not agree that women and children should

Read More
2106 Words | 9 Pages

When all the functions of society are performed by the rightful class, the resulting outcome will be justice. Each class has a duty to perform the responsibilities they are naturally best fit for and should refrain from executing another’s job. The state will be unjust if meddling occurs as it directly goes against the true definition of justice according to Plato. When the auxiliaries try to perform the role of the rulers or the workers attempt to be a guardian, the state is damaged and the exchanging of roles in the society will lead to the ultimate destruction of the state. The fourth virtue of a just city is justice because when each component of the state performs its main purpose, justice can be

Read More
1477 Words | 6 Pages

(Plato, Meno, 380 B.C.E) Meno’s second attempt to explain virtue is by stating virtue is “the power of governing mankind” (Plato, Meno, 380 B.C.E). Socrates debates meno’s opinion by expanding on

Read More
1959 Words | 8 Pages

He recognizes that women are inferior to men in almost all regards, but was unable to identify an act that divided the natures of men and women for Socrates. He turns his focus towards determining the plausibility of Socrates’ portrayal of women and children belonging to men, and whether it is optimal for the city. With the discussion of women not permitted to live privately with men with no parents knowing their offspring, Glaucon is quick to point out the obvious disputations. He acknowledges that the helpfulness may not be controversial but the possibility of producing a city with these descriptions surely would be (Plato 132 [V. 457d]). Following Socrates’ aforementioned assertion that men and women should campaign and guard the city together, Glaucon is convinced of the city’s considerable fighting power but warns of the considerable dangers in defeat such as losing the women and children.

Read More
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,

Read More
1659 Words | 7 Pages

_______ In Plato’s Republic, Socrates uses the metaphor of Kallipolis to demonstrate the idea of justice in a city to allow for a closer inspection of justice in the individual. This city is ruled by a guardian class, raised from childhood to be perfect leaders, or as Socrates puts it, philosopher kings. In order for this graced individuals to come about, they must go through rigorous physical conditioning and partake in a comprehensive musical education. This musical education differs from that of a traditional Greek citizen not only in its intensity, but also in its subject matter. Many of the traditional songs, poems, epics, works of art, and works of literature used in education would be removed by virtue of the censorship Socrates deems

Read More
1355 Words | 6 Pages

Was Plato trying to show what an ‘unjust’ city would look like? Why would he do that? The analysis and discussion of Plato’s ‘just’ city opens new doors about Plato, himself, and his intentions. From this analysis on the city’s short comings, one can spring more and more ideas about his ‘republic’ and his ‘ideals’ forever. This one analysis is only a small interpretation, or perspective of a small portion, or passage of The

Read More
2004 Words | 9 Pages

The concept of the Noble Lie is presented by Plato in the Republic. In Republic, Plato is engaged in creating an ideal political community, through the noble lie. The Noble Lie, ironically, despite being a lie, is still recognized as ‘noble’ by Plato since it aims to promote social welfare and harmony amongst the citizens. Plato’s idea of the noble lie led to the division of citizens into three distinct categories, namely, the rulers, the auxiliaries and the workmen . This paper will argue that Socrates principle of the Noble Lie must be considered justifiable under circumstances in which it intends to achieve moral ends.

Read More
943 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More
202 Words | 1 Pages

Essay The ideas of the Enlightenment influenced many ideas and activities that have and still are in effect today and that are still used in everyday day life today. Like our government and our laws in the united states today. For example like Cesare who thought if the government or the current ruler of the time was corrupt and if someone was accused of a crime they had the right to a speedy trial.

Read More
1114 Words | 5 Pages

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.

Read More
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

Read More
1467 Words | 6 Pages

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

Read More

More about Taking A Look At Plato's Republic

Related Topics

Open Document