GUIDE TO THE PHILOSOPHY 1938 - 1947.pdf - Rare Books at ...

THE PROBLEM STATED 41
then, it is obvious, can vary. What is a good State? One that
makes the good life possible for all its citizens, or rather
for it is important that we should not at this stage beg
controversial questions- one that establishes the conditions
in which* the good life can be lived by all citizens.
In so far as the State performs this function, in so far, that
is to say, as it establishes these conditions, it realizes the
end for which it exists. Now according to the telcological
view outlined above, it is only in so far as a thing achieves
its end that it can be said to become itself and realize
its true nature. It follows that only the best State is com-
pletely a State, since it is only the best State which fulfils
the function for which the State exists in relation to its
citizens.
This leads to a double conclusion: first, the good life
for the individual can be realized only in a State, and the
best life in the best State; secondly, the best State is one
whose excellence consists in making it possible for all its
citizens to live the best kind of life; in so far as it falls short
of the achievement of this excellence, it falls short of the full
realization of its proper nature, and fails, to be fully a
State. What meaning, then, are we in this connection to
give to the word "best"? To answer this question, we must
consider Plato's ethical philosophy.
Books
The Republic of Plato, Book II.
The standard edition of Plato is Benjamin Jowett's, The
Dialogues of Plato.
The Republic of Plato, translated by A. D. Lindsay, contains
a valuable introduction to and summary of the text.
NETTLESHIP, R. L. Lectures on the Republic of Plato, Chapter
III.
RgrxER, C. The Essence of Plato's Philosophy.
Vr or a modern treatment of mechanism and teleology see G. D.
Section A.
Broad's, The Mind and its Place in Nature,
Bi