Plato’s Republic

1. Book II- Senior Seminar Civitella & Verguldi-Scott Plato’s Republic

2. Characters in Book II • Socrates • Glaucon- a young companion of Socrates, (Plato’s brother in real life) • Adeimantus- brother of Glaucon, a young companion of Socrates, (Plato’s other brother)

3. The legend of the ring of Gygespre-reading discussion before section 1 • Imagine that a man is given a ring which makes him invisible • Once in possession of this ring, the man can act unjustly with no fear of reprisal • Question for discussion: • If man had no fear of reprisal, how would he behave? • What restraints if any would man put upon himself?

4. Book II Reading 1 questions • What is the legend of the ring of Gyges? • According to Glaucon, if man had no fear of reprisal, how would he behave? unjustly

5. Book II: part 3 questions 3. Why is the city created? Because it will be easier to observe justice vs. injustice than in a man.

6. Book II: reading 3 questions 4. How does Socrates set up his argument for creating a city? • It will be easier to observe justice in the city • Each of us isn’t self-sufficient and one man needs another man to create one thing for the city and another man to create another ect.

7. Book II: reading 3 questions 5. Why does Socrates say we need specialization? • To make each thing plentiful, finer, and easier. 6. How does Socrates describe tradesmen? • Men whose bodies are weakest and useless for doing any other job. These are the men who set up in the market to serve in buying and selling.

8. Book II: reading 3 questions 7. What is the difference between tradesmen and merchants? • Merchants are those who wander among the cities buying things 8. How are the wage earners described? • Men whose minds are up to partnership, but whose bodies are strong enough for labor. They sell the use of their strength.

9. Book II: reading 3 questions 9. Describe the life that men will lead in the healthy city? • Luxurious food, drinking of wine, intercourse without producing more children than they can provide for, watching out for war. 10. How does Glaucon make the connection between the city adding relishes and wealth and the need for an army and the possibility of war? • To produce the relishes you will need your neighbor’s land which could lead to war. Therefore you need an army to protect your land (wealth)

10. Book II: reading 4 questions 11. How does Socrates describe the Guardians? • They must be gentle to their own and cruel to their enemies. 12. How is a noble dog used to describe an ideal Guardian? • Gentle with their familiars and the opposite with those they don’t know

11. Book II: reading 5 questions 13. Describe the education of the Guardians. • Approved tales to shape their souls more than their bodies • They must be told that it is unholy for a citizen to be angry with another citizen 14. Why does Socrates advocate for censorship? • A young person cannot judge what is hidden and what is not.

12. Book II: reading 5 questions 15. Why must the Guardians only told of gods doing things that are good? • Because a god which does no evil could cause no evil 16. Why should the mothers also refrain from saying anything about gods doing evil? • Because it will make the Guardians cowardly