ipl-logo

Republic State Of Mind Essay

753 Words4 Pages

Republic State of Mind
(An Analysis of Three Major Themes in Republic)

George R.R. Martin once said: “A good act does not wash out the bad, nor a bad act the good. Each should have its own reward.” In the text Republic Socrates gives a philosophical answer to matters of justice and building the ideal state and individual. His words, recorded by Plato, then paved the way for the rest of western civilization’s thoughts about philosophy. Plato’s Republic outlines some of the most prominent literary themes in historical context. A strong theme found in Plato’s Republic is that of education’s role in a society. Socrates is bent on stressing that education defines an individual. “And what shall be tier education? Can we find a better than the the traditional sort? And this has two divisions, gymnastic for the body, and music for the soul.” Socrates wanted his elite to be educated for beyond academia. He wanted them to know all that is good and beautiful. He …show more content…

One of the most controversial waves Socrates spoke of is that women are ostensibly equal to their male counterparts. He understands that there is a difference in “brute physicality” between men and women, but if given the same education during their formative years, women can potentially outperform men academically. He has absolutely no qualms about a woman being in a leader’s position if she is the smartest and wisest of the people and has their best interests at heart. “I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives.” (Austen). In this quote from a highly feminist novel, readers can learn how progressive Socrates’s notion of equality was for his time.What Socrates was really trying to get after was abolishing the rules of gender roles to bring the state together in cohabitation of all

Show More
Related

  • Socrates Argue Of Justice In Plato's Republic

    342 Words  | 2 Pages

    the Republic, Socrates argues that justice ought to be valued both for its own sake and for the sake of its consequences (358a1–3). His interlocutors Glaucon and Adeimantus have reported a number of arguments to the effect that the value of justice lies purely in the rewards and reputation that are the usual consequence of being seen to be just, and have asked Socrates to say what justice is and to show that justice is always intrinsically better than is acting contrary to justice when doing so would win you more non-moral goods. Glaucon presents these arguments as renewing Thrasymachus’ Book 1 position that justice is “another’s good” (358b–c, cf. 343c), which Thrasymachus had associated with the claim that the rulers in any constitution frame

    Read More

  • Summary Of Women And The City Of Athens By Sarah B. Pomeroy

    1172 Words  | 5 Pages

    Men held the power in ancient Greece. Women had to accept the rules set by men. The oppression of the women in Greece serves as a lesson. The oppression of women have slowly dissolved with triumphs such as the 19th amendment, yet it still throughout the world. Some women aren’t receiving the same pay as men for the same jobs while others are not allowed a formal education.

    Read More

  • Why Shouldn T Socrates To Escape Crito

    1556 Words  | 7 Pages

    The people were conditioned to whole the city in high admiration, above family. Socrates was no exception, he believed in this as

    Read More

  • Dbq Enlightenment Essay

    618 Words  | 3 Pages

    Philosophers believed that men act like tyrants and act immature so they need to change their ways. In Document F-1 Mary Wollstonecraft says “But if women are to be excluded, without having a voice, from participation of the natural rights of mankind, prove first, to ward of the charge… there is not a shadow of justification for not admitting women under the same.” Wollstonecraft is fighting for equality, believes the only reason women are not equal is based off of old tradition, and it is time for change.

    Read More

  • How Did Athens Gain Power In Athenian Society

    662 Words  | 3 Pages

    Imagine a world that, as a woman, your sole purpose in life was to satisfy a husband that was chosen for you by your parents! During the Golden Age (ca. 500s-300s BCE) of ancient Athens this was the harsh reality. Political leaders claimed they had held the members of their society to a higher standard of democracy, equality, and fairness. In reality it was the exact opposite the Athens used military forces to gain power over neutral island nations, the women and children were not equal to the men, and they had and used slaves.

    Read More

  • Telemachus And Socrates

    1242 Words  | 5 Pages

    In Plato’s Republic, Plato analyzes Socrates’ accounts about society, justice, and moralism. In an effort to answer two important questions—what is justice and why should we be just—Socrates engages in a dialogue with various individuals. Polemarchus and Cephalus each offer similar statements as to what they believe justice to be. Polemarchus states that justice is living up to your legal obligations: “to owe something good to their friends, never something bad” (332a). In a clever manner, Socrates refutes his friends by exposing possible contradictions within their arguments.

    Read More

  • American Revolution Self Government Essay

    1162 Words  | 5 Pages

    no established nobility, Colonists often resorted to self-government as a necessity for maintaining order in society. The earliest example of Self-Government in America appears in 1620. The Mayflower Compact, which established a majoritarian model of government for the Plymouth Colony. Nineteen years after the Mayflower Compact was signeThe American revolution began in 1776 with the signing of the declaration of independence and ended in 1783 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. The American Revolution occurred after a long period of discontent with British rule over the thirteen colonies.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Socrates And Snowden

    1280 Words  | 6 Pages

    Socrates & Snowden Socrates was a true believer that true pleasure only comes when individuals live a moral life. He believed that an individual’s inner life, or the soul, is the most important part of life. Each person must keep his or her soul healthy, by seeking truth, self-knowledge, justice, and goodness. Socrates believed that any soul in search of fame, wealth, and power becomes ignorant, sickly, and weak (Claudia, 270). He was concerned with strengthening his inner self by examining and criticizing it.

    Read More

  • Analyzing Socrates Argument In Plato's Meno

    1060 Words  | 5 Pages

    In order to establish my thesis, I will start by stating and explaining the argument that Socrates presents, I will

    Read More

  • Socrates Speech Analysis

    1161 Words  | 5 Pages

    In the discussion of his education system, Socrates makes a point to mention that despite his strong belief that the guardians “must be kept away from all other crafts so as to be the craftsmen of the city’s freedom, and… neither do nor imitate anything else. If they do imitate, they must imitate from childhood what is appropriate for them, namely, people who are courageous, self-controlled, pious, and free, and their actions” (Rep. 3.395c-d). Moreover, Socrates also makes it very clear that with regards to the poems and stories that will serve as the basis of the guardians’ education, it is necessary to “…supervise the storytellers… select[ing] their stories whenever they are fine or beautiful and reject[ing] them when they aren’t” (Rep 2.377c). Taken together, the two aforementioned quotations tell us that not only did Socrates’ education system share the ideals of courage, moderation, and a proper sense of shame with Archidamus’ vision of the ideal Spartan, Socrates himself also found these virtues so important that he was willing to: 1) break his own law of specialization of tasks in order to instill them in his future guardians, and 2) use state-sponsored censorship as a tool in order to make sure that those particular virtues are properly and firmly entrenched

    Read More

  • The Principles Of Democracy And Republicanism Essay

    517 Words  | 3 Pages

    Established on September 17, 1787, the U.S. Constitution established America’s national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed rights for its citizens. The Constitution also represents the value and principles of democracy and republicanism that the United States of American stands by. This means that the Constitution regards to the American citizen as something that is held to deserve meaning the importance, worth, or usefulness of something. It also means its citizens come first in order of importance. The Constitution represents the value and principles of democracy and republicanism by stressing liberty and inalienable rights as central values, making the people as a whole sovereign, rejecting inherited political power, expecting citizens to be independent in their performance of civic duties, and vilifies corruption.

    Read More

  • How Does Socrates Contribute To The Nature Of Justice

    781 Words  | 4 Pages

    Plato’s Republic is a book with many important themes, but the nature of justice stands out the most. The Republic’s idea of the perfect city revolves around justice and applies this idea of how people should work, and the parts of the soul. Also, how these two things are helpful or a hindrance. To find a better understanding of justice, Socrates wants to know what makes a person just and what effects just people would have on society.

    Read More

  • Plato's Point Of View Of Socrates Research Paper

    767 Words  | 4 Pages

    Part A- Socrates In thinking of Socrates we must recognize that what we have is four secondhand sources depicting him. That of Plato, Xenophanes, Aristophanes, and Aristotle. All having radically different accounts on Socrates and his views. Out of all them we consider Plato’s to be the most possible account, even though we face a problem of different versions of Socrates.

    Read More

  • The Three Characteristics Of A Just State In Plato's Republic

    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

  • Just Society In Plato's Republic

    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

More about Republic State Of Mind Essay

Open Document