1 / 14

Plato

Plato. POSC 150 Introduction to Political Theory Braunwarth. Plato. 427-347 B Socrates’ Pupil Wrote dialogues as starting points for discussion: Socratic Method Questioned nature of Truth Theory of “ideas” or “forms” Most famous work: . The Republic.

talisa
Télécharger la présentation

Plato

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Plato POSC 150 Introduction to Political Theory Braunwarth

  2. Plato • 427-347 B • Socrates’ Pupil • Wrote dialogues as starting points for discussion: Socratic Method • Questioned nature of Truth • Theory of “ideas” or “forms” • Most famous work:

  3. The Republic One of the most influential works in Western Philosophy How to Live a Good Life: • Nature of Justice • Nature of an Ideal Republic • Allegory of the Cave

  4. The Nature of Justice • What is Justice? • Thrasymachus proposes: Whatever the strong decide it is and the strong decide that whatever is in their best interest is just • Contemporary examples? • Do you agree? • Socrates dismisses because strong rarely figure what is in their best interest

  5. Analogy of the Ideal Republic • One of the first major, systematic expositions of abstract political theory • Speculating on ideal state: “utopian” thinking • we will encounter more political theory of this type • Divides people by innate intelligence, strength, and courage • Aristocracy: “rule by the best”

  6. Analogy of the Ideal Republic • PRODUCERS: not overly bright, strong, or courageous • AUXILIARIES: Somewhat bright and strong, and especially courageous: defensive and policing positions • GUARDIANS: virtuous, brave, and extraordinarily intelligent: run the state • Temperance: lower groups obey higher • Just: Don’t simply obey, but do so willingly

  7. Analogy extended to individuals • Identifies intellect with Guardians • Spirit or emotions with the Auxiliaries • and bodily appetites with the Producers • Courageous if spirit is courageous • Wise if intellect is wise • Temperance: when emotions ruled by the intellect and bodily appetites ruled by emotions and especially intellect • Just: when obey willingly

  8. Questions before reading Allegory of the Cave • Is what you see always what you get? • Is what you see always the truth? • Describe an experience in which something that looked true turned out to be false or vice versa. • How do people accept illusion as reality? • What can happen if the illusion is shattered and reality is revealed?

  9. Allegory • What is an allegory? • A symbolic representation about the human existence • How might we replace the cave metaphor today? • Perhaps a movie theater • Central point: prisoners are not seeing reality, only a shadowy representation of it

  10. Shadows • How much do the people in the cave know of themselves and others? • Ignorant and ignorant of their ignorance • About what are they talking? • Would mistake appearance for reality

  11. Enlightenment • If a prisoner is released from the cave and compelled to look at the light, what will he experience? Why? • Pain, can’t force to learn • What does the sun symbolize? • Truth

  12. Education • If the liberated prisoner goes back and tries to enlighten his fellow prisoners, what reaction will he get? Why? • Ridicule and attack • Majority are sure of themselves • Why would the prisoners have such a bad opinion of his experience outside of the cave? • Threatening and hard to understand

  13. Political Lesson • Why must the liberated prisoner return to the cave? • Won’t care for honors • Must share vision (Socrates) • Reluctant rulers govern best • Philosophers (intellectuals) make the best leaders/kings • Why do you think the people of Athens were antagonistic to Plato’s ideas?

  14. Contemporary Society • To what extent is tendency to confuse “shadows” with “reality” relevant today? • Cave is like Plato’s conception of democracy • Most people base political decisions on superficial and fluctuating pseudo-knowledge • Describe other contemporary “caves” in which people might feel “imprisoned”

More Related