The Athenian philosopher Plato is one of the most influential figures of the Ancient Greek World and the entire history of Western thought. Plato was a dedicated man who focused on his creation of philosophy that would justify Socrates, “the best, also the wisest” man he had ever known (Robephiles). Plato was the first to ask many questions that philosophers would be obsessing over for the next couple thousands of years. Over the lifetime of Plato, his most famous piece of work included his dialogue called the Republic. Taking a closer look at Plato’s work and contributions, he never wrote systematic treatises expressing his own views but instead wrote brilliant dialogues. These dialogues were wrote out as conversations which allowed him to
The phenomenon "Socrates" surrounds every aspect of politics, culture, economic and social landscape in the current world. Indeed, there are several books on Socrates on every bookshelf in the world. Most of these books written about Socrates are dialogues of which one of them is named Gorgias. As it is already acknowledged, several books written by Plato are about Socrates. Gorgias happens to be one of his collections of dialogues involving Socrates and other characters.
Plato’s The Republic was written roughly around 380BC and yet can often be related to political systems of a country and the way people live today. A majority of the book is spoken through a Greek philosopher, Socrates, whom taught Plato about the life of a philosopher. Socrates was a citizen of Athens and was considered to be an outcast, as many philosophers typically were. He was accused of not believing in the Gods of Athens and corrupting the youth with his teachings. Socrates would eventually be condemned by the council in Athens and sentenced to death around 399BC.
In The Republic, Plato, speaking through his teacher Socrates, answers two questions. What is justice? Why should we be just? Book I sets up these challenges. While among of both friends and enemies, Socrates launch this question, “What is justice?”
Another difficulty I see here is an incorrect assessment of the problem that Aristotle is addressing. In the text of the Republic, as Plato makes his case for goodness existing above being using the Greek phrase dunamei huperechontos (surpassing it in power), Glaucon responds with daimonias huperbolês (that’s a preternatural exaggeration) (509c). Thus, it is explicit in the text that Plato is making a controversial claim, and I argue that it is controversial for a good reason. Here is an example of Plato’s idealism, which is extrapolated upon at length in the allegory of the cave. The dilemma for Plato, therefore, becomes this: if the form (eidos) of the good is, in itself, an idea that is ontologically superior to being, then how might an
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,
Justice in opposite points of view Plato tries to describe what justice is in reality by the different characters ' points of view in his book “The Republic”. In “The Republic” the characters, such Socrates, Thrasymachus, Glaucon, Cephalus, Adeimantus, Polemarchus give their opinion about justice. The people in the Just city are divided into 3 groups: gold, silver and bronze that means ruler part, guardian part and labor part of citizens. Thrasymachus says that justice is the advantage of the stronger, but Socrates argues that justice is being honest and do own role in society.
In the beginning of book VI, Socrates makes a point by saying that philosophers have always been able to see things as they are versus people who see things as they vary and so he asks, who should rule? (484b) Socrates then launches into how philosophers are the ones who love the truth and want nothing and will not stand for anything, but the truth. (485c) It is because of that they should rule and so Socrates is asking for a philosopher-king who will seek nothing but the truth through knowledge and wisdom. This is the most important and boldest claim Plato makes in the defense of philosophy.
The existence and continual study of Socrates’ philosophy regardless of differing accounts is astonishing in itself since it survived not through the specific philosopher, but through other people. Which is a testament of the impact that a man, such as Socrates, can make. When we think of Plato, who is regarded as a father of western philosophy, we are quick to think of his major work The Republic, his student Aristotle, and his writing on Socrates. (We think of his writings on Socrates as mere footnotes in philosophical thought without examining them.) “Nothing comes from nothing,” Parmenides proudly claimed, and this philosophical doctrine applies to Plato’s thought.
What is justice? This is the crucial question that Plato attempts to answer in his dialogue, The Republic. He conjures up an allegory that justice can be found in a person, and a person can represent a city. Thus, his entire dialogue focuses on this ‘just’ city and the mechanics of how the city would operate. His dialogue covers a myriad of topics about justice in addition to the human soul, politics, goodness and truth.
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.
This ideology will be addressed in the essay with substantiated reasons on why Plato thought that philosophers should rule. 1.1 DEFINITIONS OF KEY TERMS 2 PLATO BIOGRAPHY Plato was born around the year 428 BCE in Athens. Plato 's birth name was Aristocles, and he gained the nickname Platon, meaning broad, because of his broad build. His family had a history in politics, and Plato was destined to a life in keeping with this history. He studied at a gymnasium owned by Dionysios, and at the palaistra of Ariston of Argos.
Aristocles was a philosopher born 428 BC in Athens. He later earned the nickname Plato, short for Platon, because of his muscular figure and broad shoulders. During this time, Athens began its historic culture for art and philosophy. Plato was raised by a wealthy family and had one goal in life, which was for the people around him to reach eudemonia; or happiness. “Beyond the dramatic and inspiring nature of his times, five factors in particular clearly impinged on Plato’s development: his friendship with Socrates; his reaction to sophists; his personal relationships with some leading figures of his time, including his politically active relatives Critias and Charmides; the city of Sparta; and of course, those thinkers who proceded him, the
I believe Plato’s Republic is important because it alludes to both the good and bad that is democracy. In this prompt Scott Christiansen quotes Plato saying that democracy is a “charming” form of government because it is diverse and gives equality to those who are poor and rich. These words describe democracy in a positive light; however, soon after Plato begins to delve deeper into why democracy is not all melted pots and campfire songs. Plato proceeds to say that democracies usually evolve into a form of government where chaos between the rich and the poor is prominent. This disorder and disagreement between both diverse groups ultimately leads to the search for a leader that will protect ideologies held by these groups.
Plato employs Socratic discussion to converse upon these issues — encouraging his interlocutors to interrogate — by asking numerous open-ended questions in order implore others to examine their beliefs. Comparatively, Aristotle deviates from dialogue and instead expresses and elucidates on his theories in a prosaic and meticulous fashion. Plato’s work reads like an offbeat conversation between curious minds.
What is republic? According to Plato republic is a way through that he made principles for behavior of human life. Plato studied about nature and value of justice. Plato studied other qualities like construction of society as a entire and in the nature of an individual human being.