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Social And Political Philosophy Of Plato

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On the Social and Political Philosophy of Plato
Philosophy is the study of the ultimate causes of things known in the light of reason. Or so the definitive meaning of philosophy would state. Philosophy is the love of wisdom as the etymological definition would give. But what is Philosophy when put into the context of Social and Political Philosophy? Social means pertaining to the society. While political means pertaining to the affairs of the state. Deriving a definition from the common notions of the terms, Social and Political Philosophy is the study of the ultimate causes of the matters of the society and state. But that is still too vague of a definition to start with. Let us analyze the definition piece by piece. ‘Philosophy is the study …show more content…

According to Plato, the soul has three parts, namely: reason, spirit and appetite. For Plato the soul is the source of locomotion and life for an individual. It is his belief that the body itself is inanimate, and in need of a something to animate it, and this something is the soul. Appetite and Spirit are the irrational part of the soul. They tend to seek the earthly pleasure of this earth, and if not guided by reason would degrade a person to succumb to vices. Reason should be in control of spirit and appetite in order for a person to be moral and good. Plato had used the analogy of the two horses and the charioteer to describe the three parts of the soul. The two horses are spirit and appetite while the charioteer is reason. If the charioteer is inattentive and does not direct the two horses, the two horses would lead the charioteer a different place than intended. So in order to attain peace, the charioteer must take control of the reigns and lead them to the right …show more content…

Reason must not be kept in the dark. Knowledge is vital for the charioteer in order for him to lead them to the right place. The charioteer must know how to keep the horses in place. He must know when to rest, when to pull the reigns, how tight must he pull the reigns. So does reason, reason must know how to balance appetite and spirit, in order for a person to be morally good. According to Plato, the irrational part of the soul is imperfect and has the tendency to the pleasure of earthly things. These imperfections can be further intensified by the society that one lives in. For an erroneous society promulgating vices would deceive an individual into accepting that they are correct. That is why one must be not ignorant of these things. The individual being composed of these rational and irrational parts has already the tendency to be corrupt if not properly

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