Taking a Look at Platos Republic - 1690 Words

In summary of The Republic, Socrates sets out to answer not only what justice is, but also why we should be just. The first book sets up these challenges. The interlocutors engage in the dialectic similar to that found in other Platonic works. While among a group of both â€Å"teachers† and â€Å"students†, Socrates poses the question, â€Å"What is justice?† He proceeds to deny every suggestion offered in his usual fashion, showing how each contains contradictions [331c-337e]. As is also common, Socrates offers no definition of his own, and the discussion ends in aporia. In Plato’s early dialogues, aporia usually ends the dialogue, but The Republic moves beyond this typical endpoint. While The Republic is concerned with justice, it also addresses the other virtues and knowledge. Looking at The Republic as a work on justice, why justice has to be defended is apparent. As Thrasymachus makes clear, justice is not universally assumed to be beneficial. For as long as there has been ethics, there have been anti-ethicists, people who think that it is better to look out for your own selfish interest than to follow morals. Traditional Greek conceptions of justice came from epic poets as a set of actions that must be followed. The reason for being just, as presented by the traditional view, was consideration of reward and punishment: the gods reward those who are good and punishes those who are not [*]. By the time of the work, this was no longer vogue thinking. No one believed that the godsShow MoreRelatedMedical Ethics Essay997 Words   |  4 Pagessomething of a hot button issues that has US citizens deeply divided on. At the heart of this divisive issue is Universal Healthcare something that should be provided by government for its citizens or is it the responsibility of the individual. If we look at the issue of Universal Healthcare through the lens of Platonic Theories we can better define what is universal good for us as citizens and what may not be. What we ultimately determine as universal good, is it really the best course for the nationRead MoreEssay on The Allegory of the Cave in Platos Republic901 Words   |  4 PagesThe Allegory of the Cave in Platos Republic This paper discussed The Allegory of The Cave in Platos Republic, and tries to unfold the messages Plato wishes to convey with regard to his conception of reality, knowledge and education. THE ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE Platos Allegory of the Cave is a story that conveys his theory of how we come to know, or how we attain true knowledge. It is also an introduction into his metaphysical and ethical system. In short, it is a symbolic explanationRead MoreThe, Democracy, And Leadership1486 Words   |  6 Pagesspeech in Antigone as it demonstrates that it is impossible to distinguish democracy as an antidote from the sense of the participation of the people. To add to this stasis, let’s take a look at Creon’s initial address to the chorus, paying close attention to the metaphor of polis as a ship (Antigone ln 135). If you look at it closely, you can recall that Creon described the city of Thebes as a ship that had survived the storm, and he derived the meanings of these antidotes by showing they had led theRead MoreMachiavellis The Prince And Plato1417 Words   |  6 Pagesexplicitly throughout the work that he is not interested in talking about the ideal republics or imaginary utopia s, as many of his predecessors had done† (Harrison). There is an ongoing debate about which philosopher’s ideas are most correct on the subject of leadership. Two main philosophers come to mind when thinking of this topic and they are Machiavelli with his book The Prince and Plato’s dialogue The Republic. The Republic takes a very theoretical point of view on leadership and portrays life as itRead MoreAllegory Of The Giver By Lois Lowry1436 Words   |  6 Pagestouch base more on the Plato’s themes from the Republic, Book X and The Allegory of The Cave in relation to the Lois Lowry’s The Giver. What I would like to be kept in mind while making our comparison, is my previous commentary on the Allegory of the Cave from prior class discussions on Plato, The Allegory of the Cave shows us to not just stare at the known shadows and be satisfied with it, but to look beyond it to find the truth and real understanding. And Plato’s ideas in regar ds to artRead MoreShould Iraq Become a Democracy? a Platonic Perspective Essay1630 Words   |  7 Pagesbelieve the things that we do. Reading Platos Republic reminded me of this, and forced me to re-evaluate my belief that everybody should be entitled to a democracy. Previously, I could not understand why such hostility came from other countries, especially Iraq, on the good and honorable act of the U.S. by freeing Iraq from a dictator. Additionally, Iraq is finally able to become a democracy, where the people decide how to run the country. In his Republic, Plato constructs a convincing argumentRead MoreAnalysis of Aristotle and Platos Thoughts Essay985 Words   |  4 Pagesfor questioning and exploring Ideals; taking a look at all options and what is most important. While Aristotle and Plato both take a plunge into the unknowns of a political state, Aristotle demonstrates a state for individuals, to rule as equals, contrary to Plato’s strict utopian structure and grou p over individual hierarchy view of the ideal state. Plato’s ideal state is strictly structured through a utopian ideal. Everything within Plato’s ideal state has a place and purpose, andRead MoreUse Of Birth Control And Contraceptive For The Set Of Regulations1542 Words   |  7 Pagesagree with the use of birth control or contraceptive for the set of regulations he establishes concerning sexual relations and the family in the Republic. Plato’s disapproval for the use of birth control would muddle his goals because it would lead to interference regarding how the guardians will enforce and maintain control over the city. For example, Plato’s Socrates claims that the guardians would need to control how groups of women and which groups of men would best fit together to produce the bestRead MoreArguments of Plato in The Republic and Aristotle in Poetics1179 Words   |  5 Pagesmimesis has been argued by a number of scholars including Sigmund Freud, Philip Sydney and Adam Smith, but this essay wil l focus on the arguments outlined by Plato in The Republic and Aristotle in Poetics, attempting to demonstrate the different features of imitation (mimesis) and what it involves for them both. In Plato’s The Republic, he discusses what imitation (mimesis) signifies to him and why he believed it was not worthy of the credit or appreciation it was so often given. In Aristotle’s PoeticsRead MoreGender Equality : Women And Women1570 Words   |  7 Pagesperiod, the role women played in society was that of the housewife. They were thought of as the person who should be taking care of housework and the men were the ones who were in charge of the government. In â€Å"Vagabond† the author, Colette, shows the struggles that women faced trying to live on their own in a society where the men have been the ultimate breadwinners. Through Plato’s â€Å"Republic†, he shows a different viewpoint on the role that women should play in society. To begin, â€Å"Assemblywomen† teaches