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Help Me understand Plato's Republic

KyouguKyougu Registered User regular
edited October 2008 in Help / Advice Forum
In my western cultural class we are taking a test on Plato's Republic, Book III-IV. I had no problem understanding Book I and II, but these two books have me a it confused. Specially Book IV. I just want to make sure I'm in the right track.

Plato's city is broken into three categories, the Rulers or Guardians, the auxilary and the wage earners or workers. Each of these are linked to an attribute (Wisdom, courage or spirit and moderation). Only by all three minding their own business and working as they should will the city function efficiently.

Then in Book IV he makes the connection of the city being man, and man having three "souls" much like the city has three classes. And only with each of these souls working together can a man be just. Hence justice is basically being in harmony with the three aspects of man.

Am I understanding it correctly?

Kyougu on

Posts

  • EriosErios Registered User regular
    edited October 2008
    You have the gist of the basic argument, I would shy away from what justice necessarily is, as that is the big reveal in book IX (last I checked at least). I'll reply with more detail when I have time.

    Erios on
    Steam: erios23, Live: Coconut Flavor, Origin: erios2386.
  • whuppinswhuppins Registered User regular
    edited October 2008
    I was going to try to dredge up some knowledge of Plato's Republic from when I studied it, then I went to Wikipedia and saw that there's an entire wall of text regarding the topic you mention that is certainly more coherent than I could hope to be. I assume you've already read that?

    whuppins on
  • KyouguKyougu Registered User regular
    edited October 2008
    The only reason I'm concentrating on justice is because that's currently what the class has been centering about, how the arguments towards what is justice has evolved through book 1 and 2, so I'm thinking the test will have something to do with it.

    I didn't even think of Wikipedia. Reading it now, it seems to say what I'm thinking.

    Kyougu on
  • EriosErios Registered User regular
    edited October 2008
    Wikipedia is woefully shallow and rarely deviates from the standard. Beware of relying on it too much.

    Erios on
    Steam: erios23, Live: Coconut Flavor, Origin: erios2386.
  • Ebz123Ebz123 Registered User regular
    edited October 2008
    And don't ever admit to using it in class, your tutor will eat you whole.

    Ebz123 on
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