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the political philosophy of Plato (429-347 BC), one of the most influential Western philosophers. Plato was born in Athens during the Peloponnesian War (431u2013404 BC ) and was strongly influenced by the political turmoil afterwards. <br>His works defend the traditional polis and prioritize justice and intellectual virtues instead of worldly goods. <br>
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Outline • Plato’s Political Philosophy • Socratic Dialogues • Plato’s Political Philosophy • The Republic: Defense of Justice • The Republic: The Just City • Plato’s Later Political Theory
Plato’s Political Philosophy • George Klosko discusses the political philosophy of Plato (429-347 BC), one of the most influential Western philosophers. Plato was born in Athens during the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC ) and was strongly influenced by the political turmoil afterwards. • His works defend the traditional polis and prioritize justice and intellectual virtues instead of worldly goods. • His most famous work, the Republic, explores the implications of the union of philosophy and political power. • His writings have been interpreted in many ways, and the interpretation of his political philosophy is complicated by his writing style, dating of his works, and radicalism of his proposals.
Socratic Dialogues • The "Socratic Problem" is a debate regarding the relationship between the historical Socrates and the character and teaching of Socrates portrayed in Plato's works. It is generally accepted that Plato used Socrates as a mouthpiece for his own ideas, and as his works progress, the influence of Socrates decreases. • The early dialogues explore a range of topics including justice, moral autonomy, and political expertise. • Socrates believes in government by expertise and is critical of the Athenian democracy for its lack of qualified leadership and moral corruption. • He apologizes for avoiding Athenian politics, and instead pursues his lifelong mission of attempting to turn fellow citizens towards virtue outside the political system. (gadfly)
Plato’s Political Philosophy • Socrates is critical of Athenian politics in the Gorgias, condemning politicians for pandering to the people instead of doing what is best for them. He suggests a different kind of political leader, one who would restrain the citizens’ harmful appetites. • In the Crito, Socrates argues for strict compliance with the laws, refusing to escape from prison despite being sentenced to death. He claims the only comprehensive discussion of political obligation in ancient Greek philosophy is his conclusion to obey the law “whatever it commands”. • This conclusion appears to be authoritarian, and it is difficult to reconcile with his views expressed in other dialogues, such as the Apology, in which he declares he will obey the gods regardless of the court's demands.
The Republic: Defense of Justice • The Republic is focused on an inquiry into the nature of justice. • In Book I, Socrates refutes attempts to define justice from various interlocutors, including Thrasymachus's famous definition of justice as "the interest of the stronger." • At the beginning of Book II, Glaucon and Adeimantus challenge Socrates to identify the nature of justice and explain how it pays. They argue that justice is born of weakness and that people set up rules to protect themselves from one another, but would violate the rules if they could. Socrates then constructs a just city to demonstrate the superiority of justice to injustice. • The just city is composed of three classes: rulers and auxiliaries, and an unnamed class of craftsmen and farmers. • The soul is analogous to the city in being composed of three parts or aspects: reason, spirited part, and appetite. • Socrates argues that if reason rules in a soul, all elements will receive satisfaction and that, like the just city, the just soul is balanced and harmonious. • However, it is not clear if Socrates has adequately responded to Glaucon and Adeimantus.
The Republic: The Just City • Plato's political theory is based on the idea of creating a just city in order to make its inhabitants as virtuous as possible. • Its primary institution is the educational system, and other institutions provide an environment for the education to be successful. • The city is composed of three classes: rulers, auxiliaries, and farmers, and its structure is based on two psychological assumptions: people are malleable and can be made virtuous, but they also have innate differences. • Art is also seen as a way to instill balance and harmony in the youth. • The rulers of the city must understand the Forms, which exist outside the phenomenal world and are the only things that are truly real. • Lastly, Plato advocates for equal treatment of women, and he argues for a communal lifestyle in which the guardians live without individual possessions.
The Republic: The Just City • Plato's Republic presents his critique of Athenian democracy and explores the concept of an ideal city. It is difficult to determine if Plato seriously intended for the city to be realized, as some scholars suggest it is a satirical masterpiece. Plato's critique of the democracy includes the notion that the mob is easily misled and that the expertise of a few should take precedence of the wishes of the many. The concept of the cave is introduced to illustrate that people must be educated in order to move beyond appearances and attain true knowledge and values. In the twentieth century, Plato's vision of a just city was criticized by Karl Popper for resembling fascist and totalitarian regimes, and for having statist implications.
Plato’s Later Political Theory • Plato's work, The Laws, is a purged version of Athenian democracy featuring magistrates, an Assembly, popular courts, and a nocturnal council. • Private property is allowed, but land is inalienable and ownership of gold and silver is forbidden. • Women are educated and eligible for public office, and citizens have leisure to pursue virtue. • Censorship and an intensive system of education are also features of Magnesia, with the education of pleasures and pains starting before birth. • Religion is heavily emphasized and non-believers are sentenced to death. • This second-best form of philosophic politics is a departure from the Socratic ideal of moral autonomy, with an adherence to unchanging laws constructed by a philosophic lawgiver.
