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Updated, 10/3/07
The Republic is one of Platos longer works (more than 450 pages in length).
It is written in dialogue form (as are most of Platos books), & it addresses major issues in almost all of the branches of philosophy.
The central theme in the book seems to be the nature of justice, a topic in political philosophy, but Plato also has his characters explore issues in
philosophical cosmology, philosophical theology, philosophical anthropology,
According to Plato,
the
(Is he kidding?)
Introduction on the unifying of philosophy & politics (107) Why "true philosophers" would make the best rulers (108-12)
What is "true philosophy"? (108-11)
Love of wisdom (108) Knowledge of true reality (108-9) The distinctions between knowledge, ignorance and opinion (109-11)
How is a "true philosopher" different from a "lover of opinion"? (111-12) Who is best suited to rule the state lovers of opinion or "true philosophers"? (112)
Political leadership and knowledge of the Good (112-13) The ascent of the mind to knowledge of the Good (113-123)
The analogy between the Good and the sun (113-15) The image of the divided line (115-18) The allegory of the cave (118-123)
The selection in the text begins at a point in the Republic after Socrates, Glaucon, & other characters have been discussing the nature of justice and the marks of a just political system for some time. So we are coming into the middle of the conversation where Glaucon is pressing Socrates to state whether it is possible for a really just political system to come into existence. Before answering Glaucons question, Socrates wonders whether it is worthwhile to construct a theoretical model of a good political system even if such a system could not actually exist.
What does he say about this? Do you agree? Why or why not?
unless political power & philosophy are brought together & those who now pursue either the one or the other exclusively are prevented from doing so -neither our political problems nor our human troubles in general can be ended . . . .
the whole of wisdom and is satisfied with nothing less; recognizes the difference between particular things and the essences (or forms) of which particular things are likenesses (e.g., beautiful things vs. Beauty itself); and knows the differences between knowledge, ignorance, and opinion.
A true philosopher
recognizes the difference between particular things and the essences (or forms) of which particular things are likenesses (e.g., beautiful things vs. Beauty itself). One of Platos major metaphysical theories is known as the Theory of Forms. According to that theory, ultimate reality is a realm of forms (essences) not accessible to the senses but only to the mind (intellect). He calls that level of reality the intelligible realm (because it is accessible only to the intellect). The perceptible world (i.e., the world we perceive through our senses) is a reflection or copy of that higher intelligible world.
(The Greek word for form or essence is eidos.)
Do you think it is possible for one thing to be really more beautiful than another thing? Well, how is that possible if Absolute Beauty does not exist? How can A be more beautiful than B? Doesnt A have to be closer to Absolute Beauty than B is? But how can A be closer to (or B be further away from) Absolute Beauty if Absolute Beauty does not exist?
&
What are the extent and limits of knowledge? What can be known, and what cannot be known?
Opinion is belief that may be true or may be false but that has not been or cannot be "justified" (i.e., verified, proved) by any standard and generally recognized means.
Of course, some opinions that are rationally defensible in the weak sense are justified in a limited way.
Lovers of opinion -they recognize only particular perceptible things & do not believe in the existence of absolute essences such as Beauty itself.
What does Socrates (Plato) say? Do you agree? Why or why not?
(Text, p. 112-113)
In approaching the problem of defining the nature of the Absolute Good, Socrates (Plato) sets forth three very famous illustrations of his overall perspective on knowledge & reality. These are
I
The Good & the Sun
The Good is to the mind as the sun is to the eye, i.e., just as the suns light enables the eye to see in the perceptible realm, so the Good illuminates the mind and enables it to see in the intelligible realm.
(See text, pp. 113-115)
2
The divided
line
(Text, pp. 115-118)
Intelligible Realm
Opinion
Perceptible Realm
Can you link the images on the following slide to Platos depiction of the cave world on pp. 118-121 in the text?
might happen to him if he were to go back down into the cave-world? (pp. 119-121) How does he feel when he looks back down into the cave-world? (pp. 119) How does the allegory of the cave illustrate Platos overall view of knowledge and reality? (p. 121)
More questions:
Whats
the philosophical difference between coming into the darkness from the light & coming into the light from the darkness? (p. 121) What, according to Plato, does the allegory of the cave tell us about what the process of education should be?
(pp. 121-122)
The best rulers of the state are those who know the Good, who dont look to politics for their happiness, & who live a higher life than the political life. Political power should be held by those who do not want it.
The End
(for now)