Literature Review: the Book "The Republic" By Plato
Introduction
Republic is the mostly widely read, argued, challenged and disagreed book, written by Athenian philosopher Plato in 380 BC. Republic is his most famous work. Its highly palatable unlike other philosophy books and is in the form of dialogues between centre character Socrates and his three interlocutors. About the Author Plato (427 BC – 347 BC) was Athenian philosopher in the time of ancient Greece. He was member of influential and wealthy family. Plato, a student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, is also considered the father of philosophy He was founder of Platonism that shaved western philosophy. Authenticity of his works is questioned to varying degree, but his earlier works are regarded as most reliable source of information about great philosopher Socrates. His later work including The Republic is considered his own wisdom and thoughts that took the voice of Socrates. He is also celebrated as founder of first university. Platonic Epistemology Plato advocates that teaching should not be a passive process, with educator lecturing his disciples but an active process of learning or rather recalling what is innate in every soul through thinking argument and analysis under guiding light of a teacher. This interesting concept is called platonic epistemology and in republic it is explained by using metaphor of sun, analogy of the divided line and allegory of the cave. Central Theme The central theme of the book is a fundamental question about why a person should be just and how justice pays. In a world where we see injustice being rewarded or favoured, the book is a source of motivation for all those for whom justice, goodness and truth comes before anything else. The answer about what is justice is not framed in terms of equity or how you deal with people around you but how you structure different parts of your mind as an individual so that you become just within yourself and then practice justice in your surroundings and then to higher level of state.
Structure of the Book
- Opening Dialogue - The book opens with Socrates visiting Piraeus, an urban port within Athens, with Glaucon for offering prayers to goddess and exploring what city was putting up for festival. There he met Polemarchus who invited him to his home for celebration. There with Polemarchus, Cephalus and Thrasymachus he started the argument of definition of justice. Cephalus defines it as giving what is owed. Polemarchus defines as art of giving good to friends and evil to enemies. Thrasymachus declares it solely the interest of the powerful. With this dialogue, a night long argument starts between them on justice and its impacts on man and society.
- Components Republic compromises of 10 books each dealing with different subjects related to justice. Following are the 10 books which act as a chapter along with their arguments covered:
- Philosophies
a. Book I. Introduction, refutation of erroneous definitions of justice.
b. Book II. Defence of justice, development of the analogy of a just city.
c. Book III. Life and care of guardians, control of poetry within society.
d. Book IV. Four virtues of city, application to individuals, three parts of soul.
e. Book V. Role of women in city, raising of children, reproduction of society.
f. Book VI. Explanation of philosopher-kings, education, form of the “Good”.
g. Book VII. Allegory of the Cave, structure, and education of philosophers.
h. Book VIII. Types of regimes, from most just to unjust.
i. Book IX. Description of tyrannical person.
j. Book X. Immortality of the soul, fate of the soul.
a. Aristocracy. Plato in this book enthusiastically proposes that philosophers should be the kings and why wisdom and not power should rule the world. And how to educate these kings and princes. The state should be protected soldiers. The future kings should only from the class of philosophers.
b. Class Division. In Plato’s idyllic society, there was a colour coded class division, where every person was sorted into a class depending upon their job with which he was stuck for life. Bronze was for workers, merchants, artists. Silver for police and soldiers and gold for philosopher king.
c. Mind Division. Another very interesting concept of Plato was the division of mind into rational mind, emotional mind that loves honour, get upset and angry and then animal appetites mind. Plato was a staunch believer that animal appetites like food, shelter and carnal desires should remain caged and not cloud wisdom or honour. He equalizes the inner state of a man to the society. d. Socialism. Plato advocates that happiness should be sorted for the whole city not just oneself and how there is an unjust distribution of wealth.
e. Totalitarianism. The book proclaims censorship of poetry, suppression of freedom of expression, control of common man lives by guardian, a strong military group for law enforcement are essential fir utopian state.
f. Communism. The book has some strong elements of communism in it like individuals should not be allowed to possess things and should be guardian's possession.
g. Allegory of the cave. Through this metaphor, Plato makes us comprehend that we as humans are stubborn in thinking and believing what we see and sense although these are just shadows and not true reality.
h. The myth of Er. Plato propagates that soul is separated from bodies and when bodies die, the soul continues to exist. This formed his philosophy of education that souls already know through their previous lives and guidance of teacher only helps in recollection of that knowledge.
Summary
It's a thought-provoking book that opens with a debate about justice and whether the just man is happier than the unjust man. Plato fantasises the first ideal just city / state in western literature and ponders over its working and the character of man in it. Later, addresses why common man is not eligible for leadership and total freedom (as in democracy) and the need of a philosopher king, the roles of women and children in a utopian society, expression of art and censorship of poetry. Analysis Plato favoured the Aristocracy the best form of governance. This concept is flawed and highly challenged in the modern times of democracy. His ideas of equal social status of women to men and opportunity for them to educate and play their part in society has ranked him as proto feminist. Interesting concept of Plato about the division of mind into rational mind, emotional mind that loves honour, get upset and angry and then animal appetites mind and how rational mind should over cloud others is highly appreciated yet labelled impossible to achieve. His colour coded class division is widely frowned upon among the modern philosophers, yet it continues to influence minds of Aristocrats after 24 centuries. Conclusion The ideas in the book regarding idyllic state are no doubt widely and passionately confronted, criticized and rejected. Yet the thought process while reaching end results is a work of genius and quite commendable even after 24 centuries.
