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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.

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Plato

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  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”

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