Is Plato s The Republic Essay - 1134 Words

Throughout the history of the world, many pieces of literature have been written in which many messages can be extracted to help an individual understand themselves, as well as the world around them. Some of the most common examples of these texts are religious texts. According to Steven Ward, when discussing some of the most important religious texts in history, â€Å"...many of which had a major influence on the future course of history and many of which continue to shape the lives of millions of people worldwide.† The ways in which these texts influenced people in the past, as well as continue to influence people, are through the messages which they portray. Although religious tet are well known for their life altering messages, other texts can also have similar influences on people. One such text is Plato’s The Republic. As said by Professor Jon Dorbolo of Oregon State University, â€Å"The Republic is considered by many to be Plato s masterwork. It certainly is on e of the most important texts of political theory.† While reading this text, several different messages begin to reveal themselves throughout the text. Some of the most important ideas that can be found within Plato’s Republic, include, humans are inherently good, people should perform tasks that they are good at, and his definition of justice. A multitude of messages can be withdrawn through a reading of Plato’s Republic, one of which is his idea that humans are inherently good. While discussing recent developments inShow MoreRelatedThe Republic Of Plato s Republic865 Words   |  4 Pagesgovernments, ideal cities and even ideal rulers over the course of the semester, from Aristotle’s Politics to the city described in the Melian dialogue, there is one that undoubtedly left a greater on me than the other- the city described in Plato’s Republic. From Plato’s remarkably feminist ideals and vague sense of barebones socialism, there’s a l ot in this city that I hypothetically would throw my support behind. This is not to say that I think that this is the â€Å"best† option of the cities that weRead MoreThe Republic Of Plato s Republic893 Words   |  4 PagesPlato’s Republic Plato aims to show from book 1 that justice has intrinsic value to itself, that it gives one a more satisfying pursuit of life. In book I, he retorts Thrasymachus account that justice is the advantage of the stronger. Initially this makes sense that if justice were defined by state law, then the entirety of nations, differing in laws, would be unified by the principle of rule by force, in which the strong create the law. They would do so to suit their own specific needsRead MorePlato And Plato s Republic1119 Words   |  5 PagesThe ancient Greek Philosopher Plato had an interest in finding the ideal government. In Plato’s Republic, he discusses his ideas and views of how this ideal government would function. He believed that people are born into 3 different classes, with different responsibilities (Plato 415a). Only people in the â€Å"golden† class were fit to rule. The most effective of these rulers would be philosophers, as they have knowledge of the good of the whole (Plato 473d). This system seems too perfect for me. IRead MoreComparing Plato s Republic, The Philosopher And Plato965 Words   |  4 PagesIn Plato s Republic, the philosopher is sitting having a discussion with his fellow peers and friends. During this conversation each character except Plato offers their opening and reasoning on the question, what is justice. For the majority of the book Plato outlines almost every aspect of his ideal city. Within this city Plato has set up many rules in order for the city to remain just. All the way from mating rituals to who should rule, virtually all factors have been thought of and serves a specificRead MoreThe Life Of Plato s The Republic1340 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout the early books of Plato’s The Republic, Socrates and his interlocutors Adeimantus, Polemarchus, Glaucon, Thrasymachus, and to a lesser extent Cephalus, explore what it means to be just and why justice is preferable to injustice. This topic was brought up in a monologue from Cephalus, who is an old patriarch that represents Greek tradition and thus offers a traditional view of j ustice. One by one, all of the interlocutors attempt to define justice, with Socrates disagreeing with at leastRead MoreAnalysis of Plato ´s Republic974 Words   |  4 PagesRepublic, perhaps Plato’s most famous work focusing on justice and its values, is also home to Socrates’ unique ideas and the challenges that he faces throughout his dialogues with other philosophers. Nevertheless, justice is not the only topic that Plato examines in his work. In the Republic, a simple discussion of the justice and the different characteristics of cities, escalates into a discussion about the souls of individuals. Socrates starts out by offering an agreement to the fact that sinceRead MoreComparing Plato s The Republic957 Words   |  4 Pagesrulers change their ways as well as do what they can for the good of their people. In Plato’s The Republic, the character Socrates argues with his peers about what makes the perfect society, as well as the perfect leader. According to Plato, the wisest choice for a ruler in a near perfect society is a philosopher, containing multiple important attributes. A wide variety of characteristics are covered, yet Plato seems to focus in on several key foundations. Plato’s views on essential traits of a philosopherRead MorePlato s Republic As A Guide883 Words   |  4 PagesLet me tell you about â€Å"the perfect republic.† First, I’ll describe it to you using Plato’s Republic as a guide. Then, I’ll explain whether it is better to live in Plato’s republic or in a timarchy, oligarchy, democracy, or a tyranny. Plato’s books create an ideal city where there are the producers (farmers, craftsmen, etc.), the auxiliaries, also known as the warriors, and the guardians, they are the rulers of this city. Each of these groups must perform its job, and only that one job, and eachRead MoreAristotle s Ethics And Plato s The Republic892 Words   |  4 Pagesabout ancient Gods to more in depth works such as Ethics or The Bible. All of these works show serious teachings about multiple things such as justice, Gods, and philosophy. In my paper, I am going to discuss the concepts of Aristotle s Ethics and Plato s The Republic in order to hopefully achieve whether or not the ideas that have stuck out to me, are true or not. In the book Ethics, by Aristotle, plenty of concepts have stuck out to me, and made me think quite a bit. One of the ideas that stickRead MorePlato s The Republic And Aristotle933 Words   |  4 PagesPlato’s The Republic and Aristotle’s The Politics are two classic texts in ancient Greek political thought. Although Plato taught Aristotle, the two philosophers had differing viewpoints on many subjects, one of them being the purpose of political rule. Plato believed that the purpose of political rule is to allow for the manifestation of a just city where both the city and its citizens are in harmony due to a specialization of roles according to individuals’ natures, whereas Aristotle believed that