The Republic - Plato
***Note: This writing is based on what I remember and understand from the lecture in the class. There is no clear citation and bear in mind that some information might be not accurate.
I. Summary
The Republic is a political philosophy book focusing on an ideal state. Plato figures out how to make an ideal state with political and individual’s justice. He mentions, to make that kind of state, three classes in state – producers, auxiliaries and philosopher-kings, three compositions of state – wisdom, courage and temperance, and three parts of individuals’ soul – rational part, spirited part and appetitive part – are the elements. The Plato Republic also discusses about different views on JUSTICE by Cephalus, Polemarchus, Thrasymachus and Glaucon and Adeimantus and Socratis’ counter arguments against their definitions. More importantly, Plato also introduces the theory of Form, which is an aspect of reality that what can be seen or in the other words, it is the intelligible realms that it is the objective knowledge. To illustrate the Form, he raises the analogy with the sun, the line and the cave, which explaining the cognitive grades of activity – imagination, belief, thought and understanding.
II. Main concepts of Plato
1. Division of Labor
Justice happens only if there are basic needs (food, shelters and clothes) for people, and division of labor is a way to produce goods and satisfy people needs. When people can get what they want, they probably think further than just the basic needs, behaving decently. They start to need a good life, cultural and psychological needs such as interactions.
Division of labor allows people to work on what they are best at according to their skills and ability. They trade with one another in the society.
2. Three Classes in the State
There are three classes in the ideal society:
1. Producers: Basic needs providers (traders, farmers, artisans, barkers . . .)
2. Auxiliaries :Security providers (military troops)
3. Philosophy King : Leader of society
*** auxiliaries and philosophy kings are the Guardian of the society. The Guardians do not possess any private property beyond the necessities
But, there is a question that who is born to be what!
"Wealth and Birth do not determine who people should be" No matter how rich you are and no matter what family you are born to, those cannot define you to be what should you be.
"Everyone is already designed by nature to be what they are arranged to be"
So everyone must go to school to pure who should be what.
There are two main examining elements to find out who should be what.
1. Gymnastic: Physical and intellectual capacity
2. Music: psychological and ability to lead
If people are good at gymnastic, they are auxiliaries
If people are good at music they are philosophy kings because people understand and like music have temper in soul and harmony and calm.
But both need further education.
Element school - exam - military training or 2 years - exam (become an auxiliary if failing this exam) - 10 years of math - exam - study philosophy and morality for 5 years to become a philosophy king
"Natural ability, attitude, characters and educational achievements determine who people are"
- Education: allows us to see what behind what you can see, understanding the reality behind the appearance
3. Three Compositions of the State
Justice is a virtue which consists of three elements as follows:
Justice is a virtue which consists of three elements as follows:
1. Wisdom: knowledge to govern the state, especially by the philosophy kings; the art of guardianship
2. Courage: what to fill and what not to; "and its being brave will mean . . . it possesses the power of preserving . . . a conviction about the sort of things that is right to be afraid of - the conviction implanted by the education which the lawgiver has established"
3. Temperance: moderating the greed and keeping calm by both the ruling and the ruled. the society consists of best and worst parts but if it can be in control of pleasure and desire, it may be described as temperate.
4. Three Parts of Individuals’ Soul
In addition to state itself that has its composition to be ideal and just, each individual also plays crucial roles in his soul in creating and maintaining justice in the state. "A man is just in the same way that a state is just"
1. Rational part: Knowledge about what benefits you and what is right and wrong.
2. Spirited part: an action pusher; making your actions into practice
3. Appetitive part: Desire and greed; insatiable covetousness.
Because appetite is covetous, the rational and spirited parts of the soul control the appetitive part. The rational and spirited parts are the Guardian of the entire soul and body.
"Justice in the individuals consists in reasons in ally with spirits controlling appetite"
Appetite will always want something covetous; therefore, reasons tell whether it is right or wrong while spirits take actions to do it or not to do it based on the reasons.
It is also true that the wisdom from leaders leads the country based on the knowledge about what is right and wrong and what is just so that courage takes part to do it or not to do it in order to obtain the temperance.
5. The Form: the analogy with the sun
This video talks all about the analogy with the sun. It is highly recommended to watch.
Because appetite is covetous, the rational and spirited parts of the soul control the appetitive part. The rational and spirited parts are the Guardian of the entire soul and body.
"Justice in the individuals consists in reasons in ally with spirits controlling appetite"
Appetite will always want something covetous; therefore, reasons tell whether it is right or wrong while spirits take actions to do it or not to do it based on the reasons.
It is also true that the wisdom from leaders leads the country based on the knowledge about what is right and wrong and what is just so that courage takes part to do it or not to do it in order to obtain the temperance.
5. The Form: the analogy with the sun
This video talks all about the analogy with the sun. It is highly recommended to watch.
