Plato s Republic - Books 1&2 Instructor: Jason Sheley
We want to understand the motivations for Plato's metaphysical, ethical, and epistemological views.
The Phaedo begins with everyone waiting for Socrates to die. Socrates admonishes everyone for crying. The discussion is motivated by the question: why is Socrates not afraid to die?
"Philosophy is the preparation for death and for dying." - Socrates (Phaedo)
We saw in the Crito that Socrates thinks that wrongdoing harms and shames the wrongdoer. But what is wrongdoing? Or, to put it positively, what is the right thing to do? (Rightdoing)
As it happens, this is the chief question in Plato s Republic: What is Justice? (The greek dikaion is translated as Justice, but could be better translated as general rightdoing ) In Crito, the term used was adikein, so they are investigating the same thing in The Republic.
Practical Concerns The Republic begins with a practical question. What does Socrates want to know from Cephalus? (Why is this important?)
At this point, Cephalus (and several of the listeners) offers a definition. (331e) What definition does he offer? How does Socrates respond?
Plato thinks that in order to answer the basic, practical question (how do I live a good life?), we need not only to investigate the ethical issues (what is Justice). We also need to investigate Metaphysical and Epistemological issues, as well. In other words, in order to answer the original question, we will also need a theory of what is ultimately real, as well as a theory of knowledge.
Thrasymachus Thrasymachus arrives on the scene and offers a new definition of Justice. What is it? How does Thrasymachus carry himself? What sort of person are we dealing with here? (However, what do you think about what Thrasymachus says at 337-338?)
T s first definition: Justice is the advantage of the stronger. (notice the clarification at 339) Socrates response at 339d: It is just to do what is in the advantage of the stronger, and also what is not to their advantage. (Why does Socrates think this?)
Notice that they offer Thrasymachus a way out at 340c. But he refuses to accept this way out. (why?) Socrates next move is to make several analogies, and gets T to agree to each. What is the point of the set of analogies? (hint: 342e)
Thrasymachus then gives a second speech (343a-344d) Let s look at it...
344: A person of great power outdoes (pleonektein) everyone else. 344d: The conclusion - Those who reproach justice do so because they are afraid not of doing it but of suffering it. So, Socrates, injustice, if it is on a large enough scale, is stronger, freer and more masterly than justice.
At 347e, Socrates switches to pursuing a new question. What is this other question, and why does he regard it as being more important? 348d: T gives his answer Socrates begins his refutation, again, with getting agreement from T - 349b-d
At 350c, Socrates concludes his argument: Then, a just person is like a clever and good one, and an unjust is like an ignorant and bad one. How does Socrates arrive at this? Let s look at 352a-d... (to what degree is the unjust person powerful?)
Socrates wraps up this portion of the argument by appealing to functions. Each object has a function (what one can only do or do best with the thing) Each thing that has a function also has a virtue. (which allows the thing to perform its function well)
The soul (psuche) has a function. The soul has a virtue (which allows it to perform its function well). A good soul performs its function well (and a bad soul...) Justice is the virtue of the soul And so a Just man will live well; an Unjust man will live badly.
At this point, Thrasymachus departs. But Socrates is not yet finished with the argument. In Book 2, Glaucon renews Thrasymachus argument, and seems to put it in an even stronger form.
Book 2
Glaucon s Challenge First, Glaucon makes a division of kinds of goods, and asks Socrates into which division Justice should be placed. How does this division work?
Glaucon s Challenge The challenge is to show that Justice is valuable for its own sake, and not for the benefits that it brings. At 358b, we get the restatement of the view How does the Ring of Gyges figure into this view? What s the point of introducing it?
The Ring of Gyges Let's look at the case... How do you think we should respond?
What would you do if you were given the ring?
What is commonly said about the Gods and the afterlife? 365a-366b
What Glaucon Wants... At 367e To show: 1) Justice is stronger than injustice 2) What each does to its possessor 3) Show how Justice in itself benefits its possessors... how it is a good in its own right.
Socrates Strategy Socrates responds (368c-e) by saying that they will first investigate Justice on a large scale -- Justice in the city -- and then attempt to locate Justice in the individual.
The Strategy Justice Justice
Socrates begins by investigating how a city comes about. 369b: I think a city comes to be because none of us is self-sufficient, but we all need many things... 369c: Come, then, let s create a city in theory from its beginnings. And it s our needs, it seems, that will create it.
The City of Pigs At 372, they seem to have completed the basic city, and ask whether they can see Justice within it. Surprisingly, they don t say anything about it. Instead, they expand the city. Why? 372d-373 Such a city will need to acquire more land, and war will come about. Which means that they need warriors.
The Key Principle (374a-e):... for we surely agreed, if you remember, that it s impossible for a single person to practice many crafts or professions well. Because of this principle, they introduce a class of soldiers (or guardians) for the city.