Great Ideas of Philosophy

Lecture TenPlato’s Republic⎯Man Writ LargeScope: This most famous of the dialogues begins with the metaphor—or the reality—of the polis as the enlargedversion of the person. The fate of each is inextricably bound up with the fate of the other.Plato’s Republic is taken to be the foundational work in what we call “political science,” but it is useful torecall that the dialogue begins with a quite different question—namely, what is it by which aman can be said to be “good”? In light of the complexity of the question, Socrates suggests that the subjectof the inquiry be enlarged, made big enough so as to be seen more clearly. Thus, the question istransformed.OutlineI. Plato’s Republic is one of the most discussed philosophical tracts in history and the subject of both praise andcondemnation. It is famous in political science—is, indeed, the origin of political science—but it also concernsitself with matters that are psychological: What makes a man good? What are the weaknesses of human nature?II. Book I begins with a group assembling in the house of Cephalus, a wealthy and now old man whose son,Polemarchus, is among the group associating with Socrates. Cephalus and Socrates have an interestingconversation about reaching old age and the advantages of wealth.A. Cephalus asserts that as the end of life approaches, one begins to think increasingly about a time after deathwhen one might be punished for moral failings. A rich man, having no need to cheat or defraud others,tends to have a clearer conscience and, thus, is less fearful of death.B. Socrates then mentions something he has learned—that what it means to be just is to pay one’s debts. Weare then plunged into an examination of justice. Before the end of Book I, the dialogue has raised thequestion of whether an unjust person can reach a state of happy and flourishing life.C. Note that at least this far into Plato’s Republic, there is no attention to political science or statecraft. Thefocus, instead, is on justice, and in seeking to establish what it is that qualifies a person as just, the dialoguebegins to explore the motives and desires of people. Thus, it stands as a treatise on psychology.III. In Book II, Glaucon forces Socrates to categorize justice into one of three distinct classes of “good things.”A. There are things that are good in and of themselves, independent of their usefulness, such as harmlesspleasures. There are goods such as knowledge and health that are not only good in themselves but also forthe consequences that arise from them. Finally, there are such goods as exemplified by money-making,which are, in and of themselves, disagreeable but are pursued for the sake of their results.B. Socrates places justice in the highest category, where things are desired for their intrinsic value, not theirconsequences. This allows the debate to continue: What is it that makes a man good? Who exemplifies theideal in a world that lusts after power and wealth?C. Socrates is reminded that many seem just but are not and that the real determinants of conduct are notvirtues, as such, but the fear of punishment and the expectation of reward. To make this abundantly clear,Glaucon refers to the mythical story of the ring of Gyges.D. Glaucon asserts that if a just and an unjust man both wore rings that offered the power of invisibility, intime, their conduct would be alike; each would pursue his own desires fearlessly.1. Socrates takes on this assertion by tracing out the lives of the two, the just and the unjust. He desires,however, to make this question as large as possible so that it can be seen clearly.2. Thus, the question is transformed into one regarding the good state, because in important respects, theperson and the polis are reflections of each other.IV. As the dialogue proceeds, Socrates places the origin of the state in small communities assembled to satisfy themost basic needs. Success enlarges the community. Specific needs are met by persons trained to performspecific functions. Greater success brings growth and prosperity and the need for defense, that is, guardians.A. The excellent soldier must be trained, yet training will be useless unless the natural abilities of the potentialsoldier are substantial. To train guardians, the state must begin with youths of good background and©2004 The Teaching Company Limited Partnership 25