Platos Republic IIIV Platos Republic Republic Politeia i

Plato’s Republic II-IV

Plato’s Republic • Republic = Politeia, i. e. the Constitution • Written ~380 after founding Academy • “Middle” Plato – Early = Socratic dialogues (inc. Rep I) – Middle = grand theories (Phaedo, Rep, Sym) – Late = more critical (Theaetetus, Sophist) • Skeptical vs. dogmatic readings – Dogmatic = Popper; Plato = totalitarian – Skeptical = Republic ‘reopens’ at many points

Background: Book I First book explored and Conclusion = typical Socratic aporia rejected many popular views of justice 1. Justice = telling truth and But Glaucon and Adeimantus are not repaying debts satisfied, and feel 2. Justice = helping friends that Thrasymachus’ and harming enemies arguments have not truly been refuted. 3. Justice = advantage of the stronger, i. e. the idea of ‘justice’ = a myth

Structure of the Republic 1. Prologue: What is justice/why be just? (I) 2. Logos: the just society; why be just (II-IX) 1. Just City /Initial Argument (II-IV) a. Challenge b. The just city & Justification 2. Digression: 3 Waves & Kallipolis (V-VII) 3. Unjust Cities /Final Argument (VIII-IX) a. 4 Unjust cities b. Final argument & Justification 3. Epilogue: Poetry, immortality, justice (X)

Structure of the Republic ‘High City’ = KALLIPOLIS (V-VII) / JUST CITY (II-IV) vs. UNJUST CITIES (VIII-IX) / POPULAR VIEWS (I) vs. POETRY, MYTH (X)

Book II – Plato’s Brothers Object GLAUCON: 1. Justice = a social contract, i. e. laws to create order 2. Gyges: if people can get away with injustice, they will 3. This makes sense: no one rationally gives up the good for themselves, unless it is for a longer term good ADEIMANTUS 4. Moreover, this is what everyone teaches: we should be just for rewards get in this life or in the next, not for its own sake TOGETHER: Prove to us that the rational man will choose to be just, that justice is intrinsically good, and not only good for its consequences (such as not being punished, or gaining respect and recognition)

Socrates’ initial response • • • This is not easy We cannot understand justice in the individual apart from justice in society First consider how governments form: 1. First: economic communities – many needs One Man One Job principle – Glaucon objects, “wants more” 2. Then: political community – Military-imperial society – Many new, ‘artificial’ needs and arts – Injustice = seizing land from others to satisfy the “desire for more” (omits to mention slavery)

The Thrasymachus Problem • • How do we reform the rulers so they don’t prey on the people, but serve the common good? Socrates’ answer: Create an educational state – – Make sure the rulers (Guardians) are well educated in both musike (‘arts’) and gymnastike (‘sports’) so as to shape their character to be both temperate and brave Make sure they are completely loyal to the State and its principles, so they will govern themselves and others firmly and appropriately Educational state must be structured the right way Later he will add a whole other dimension to their education (Books V-VII)

Structure of the Just Society: each person has their proper function Ruling class (later identified as philosopher-kings) / GOVERNMENT Auxiliaries = govt officials without family life / COMMON PEOPLE Producers = families/property no political rights

Just Society Highly Regulated The just society will regulate 1. Religion = instill right theology (cf. 377 -83) 2. Art = censor moral content and form of art (cf. eg 387 b, 389, 392, 399, 401 -02) 3. Medicine = free, but restrict market (405 -410) 4. Economics = property/families for workers, communism for government class (415 -17) 5. Politics= no one but rulers deliberate policy 6. Common beliefs: e. g. Noble Lie 414

Moral Benefits of Regulation 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Right Religion = right moral beliefs re: universe (vs. e. g. atheism or violent gods) Right Art = right moral beliefs, desires (vs. consumer society, decadence) Right Medicine = healthy citizenry able to work (vs. waste of medical resources) Economic life = satisfied working class; complete dedication of government class to the State Political life = rule by a wise elite, rather than a mob manipulated by demagogues Right common beliefs: e. g. Noble Lie = faith in the ideals of the State

The Republic: all are citizens

State religion, art, athletics

Solidarity and National Defense

Wise and Visionary Rulers

IV. Adeimantus Objects: Why should the rulers accept their Spartan life? 1 st answer: • I did not say justice = best for each, but best for the common good • Most cities = divided: ruling class vs. people • Republic = truly united = feel as one, think as one, act as one. Unity = Good. Community = Justice. 2 nd answer: • In fact, each part of this society will be satisfied • I can explain this by reference to human nature

Tripartite Soul and the Republic Human nature 1. @ human has – Reason - truth – Spirit - honor – Appetite - physical 2. @ human basically = – Intellectuals – ‘Spiriteds’ [Ambitious] – Appetitives Human government 1. Govt must provide @ – Rational activity – Honor, recognition – Safety, pleasure 2. Govt must be organized – Intellectual Rulers – Soldier-Guardians • Don’t need families, property – Consumer-Producers • Don’t need political rights

Two Theories of Freedom Negative Freedom Positive Freedom • = ability to do what you want without restriction by others • Liberal concept of just society = protect negative freedom w/in limit of not harming others • = ability to actualize best potentials • Platonic concept just society = enable people to achieve positive freedom – Free speech, art, thought – Free morals (privacy) – Free market, property rights – Health care for needy – Free education for able – Meaningful work for all • Rejects ‘negative freedom’ – may be self-enslaving, e. g. addiction to drugs, development of bad values, promotes social alienation, etc.

Two Theories of Justice John Rawls Plato • Social Justice = contract made • Social Justice = structure which (a) brings about greatest from the “original position” of common good; (b) actualizes ignorance re: natural/social best potentials of each advantages • Everyone would choose • Everyone would chose – Political, speech rights – best economic set-up for least well off* – what gives them what they need – what gives them opportunity to do the work they are best at • Just society = enables people • Just society = government to achieve positive freedom protects individual rights • Unjust society = violates rights, • Unjust society = frustrates positive freedom, unequal based on false claims to power, opportunity wisdom * Mixture of capitalism + welfare rights

What is Justice? 1. Follow rules/keep contracts = LAWFULNESS 2. Group loyalty = LOYALTY 3. Giving @ what is due* = FAIR DISTRIBUTION • • • equally based on merit based on wealth 4. Superior over inferior = [INNATE] HIERARCHY 5. Protecting ind’l rights = RIGHTS (‘atomic’/contractual model of political society) 6. Well-ordered social whole = COMMUNITY (‘functional’/organic model of political society)

What is Social Justice? Liberal (e. g. Locke-Rawls) Communitarian (e. g. Plato) • Economics = free market – Efficiency, merit vs. wealth • Culture = voluntary associations – Unregulated except w/in associations – Some link to economics, e. g. art • Government/military = force/law based on popular consent – Legitimacy = majority will – Rights of speech, voting – Rule of law • Just society = protects individual rights • Key concept = individual liberty within framework of law – Regulated to limit wealth • Culture = state associations – State supported and regulated – Selection according to merit – Unrelated to economics • Government/military = force/ rule based on elite leadership – Legitimacy = political wisdom – Equal opportunity rights – Rule of men • Just society = preserves structural integrity of society • Key concept = self-actualizing work in community

What is Social Injustice? Plato Critics of Plato • Thrasymachus: rulers don’t common good • Democracy immorality, widening gap of rich v. poor • Unequal opportunity for selfrealization • Oligarchy = goods, offices not based on need or merit • Social alienation: lack of mutual concern, solidarity • States do not correspond to diversity of natures & values • Protagoras problem: rulers can’t know objective good • Dubious faith in Plato’s educational system • Totalitarian society: – Denies liberty, political rights – Restriction of other freedoms – “Tyranny of reason” • Question unity/solidarity of communist leaders • State does not correspond to equal human natures

Is the Republic totalitarian? • Totalitarian state implies – Absolute power (no limits, law) – Ideological system – Statism: individual = valued only as instrument of state • Plato’s Republic – Is in some respects • Absolute power (no legal rights) • Ideology of the Noble Lie, right religion, right art – But not in others • Rational, not irrational • Peaceful, not imperialistic • Not ‘statist’: values threefold selfrealization of each citizen • Community working together (solidarity), vs. exploitation of one class by rulers

Virtue in the Republic 1. Wisdom: knowledge of the just and the good and right desire to seek it; effective leadership 2. Courage: guardians = brave and loyal; national security 3. Temperance: state restricts appetites, and everyone accepts this; sound moral values 4. Justice: all three castes—rulers, auxiliaries and producers—have the appropriate roles and “mind their own business. ” REPUBLIC = A well-functioning, efficient society, in which each member has what they need and gives according to their ability. [cf. “Republic of Singapore”]

Why should I be just? Justice not = obeying the law • Argument #1 Platonic justice = selfgovernment* by which a person satisfies his rational, spirited, and appetitive needs with an eye to the good of his whole person. • Argument #2 NOTE: In Republic, the State does this for non-philosophers. – PJ = intrinsically good= better than self-conflict – Most people, in most societies, = selfconflicted/ ‘unjust’ – PJ person = outwardly just; won’t desire great property or honor, will ‘follow reason’ – Injustice = driven by selfish passion (esp. for honor, property)

Plato’s “Just person” • Rational = self-knowing, self-rule – Love of truth, knowledge – Ruled by reason (not selfish or impulsive aims), understanding of justice, ‘rational goods’ • Egoistic-volitional – Sense of honor/ambition allies with reason – Values others who contribute to polis • Appetite – Monitors and censors experience – self-restriction of sexual conduct, food/drink This person is rational, in part because she realizes she must ‘govern’ her egotistic & appetitive impulses.

Plato’s “Unjust person” • Rational part = serves ego, appetites – Love of ‘possessing’ truth – Self-deceiving about own motives • Egoistic-volitional – Sense of ‘my honor’ rules soul (aristocrat) – Master-slave or competitive relation to others • Appetites – Lust for wealth rules soul (plutocrat) – Lust for ‘freedom’ rules soul (democrat) – Lust for absolute freedom/power rules soul (tyrant) NOTE: This person thinks she is rational, but is actually driven by irrational motives.

Plato’s Ethics • Ethics = – Utilitarian = greatest good for greatest number – Deontological = cf. Crito: contrary to rational self to do wrong – Teleological = based on self-actualization, tripartite soul • Virtues: – Justice = conscious self-regulation in interests of whole person/self-actualization – Wisdom = knowledge of complex needs of whole human being, oriented to primary good of wisdom and truth – Courage = will-power to govern appetites in interest of whole person as directed by reason (overcome fear, aversion to pain) – Temperance = self-restriction of sexual conduct, physical desires, appetite for wealth, intake of artistic experience (overcome desire, lust for pleasure)

3 Just People • Philosopher – – Reason satisfied in philosophy, governing function Ego satisfied in community of friends, office Appetites satisfied with limited property, public arts Doesn’t seek great wealth, fame • Civil Soldier/Servant – – Reason satisfied in State work, ideology Ego satisfied in honors, career successes Appetites satisfied with limited property, family life Willing to subordinate himself to the Leadership • Worker-Craftsman – – Reason satisfied with technical work, Church Ego satisfied in economic success, family Appetites satisfied with personal property, family Doesn’t care about ‘politics’

Digression • Socrates is about to go on to discussion of “unjust cities” when everyone objects • They challenge him to explain rationale for – Women’s equality ( 1 st argument for this) – Communism of wives and property – Rule by philosopher-kings and –queens • Socrates acknowledges “ 3 Waves” may be too much… but takes it on in Books V-VII.

Structure of the Republic Logos: the just society; why be just (II-IX) 1. Just City /Initial Argument (II-IV) a. Challenge (II) b. The just city & Justification (II-IV) 2. Digression: 3 Waves & Kallipolis (V-VII) 3. Unjust Cities /Final Argument a. 4 Unjust cities (VIII-IX) b. Final argument & Justification (IX)