The Republic of Plato explores the meaning of Justice from both an individual and societal point of view. It also looks into the incorporation of Justice into human society, in other words, how to create an ideal state of social order in a society. This is carried out through the various dialogues and arguments between Socrates and other individuals. During this process, Socrates gave a detailed analysis of the formation, structure and the organization of an ideal State, and through this, vindicate the intrinsic value of being a Just person in a society and the virtues that each individual must possess. In the dialogue with Glaucon and Adeimantus, where Socrates discussed about Justice in the State, he pointed out that there will be three orders in the State: the Rulers (legislative and deliberative), Auxillaries (executives) and Craftsmen (productive). The institution is based, not on birth or wealth, but on natural capacities and attainments, after years of primary education. These 3 chief social functions are kept distinct and rightly performed. Since Socrates believed that qualities of a community are those of the component individuals, we may expect to find these 3 corresponding elements in each individual soul. However, the structure of the society is based on the fact that they are developed to different degrees in different types of character. Together with the application of the law of specialization and division of labor, we can see clearly how these distinct c...
During this time, Felicitas gave birth to a baby girl, who was taken away from her hours after her birth. The day before they were to be martyred, Perpetua had a dream of her battling a “savage Egyptian”, and proclaimed that she would battle the devil himself. The day of their execution, the soon-to-be martyrs are led into the amphitheater where they are to be killed by beast. They are first scourged by Gladiators, and then a boar, a bear, and a leopard are set on the men, a wild cow on the women. After the two were wounded by the animals, Perpetua and Felicitas gave each other the kiss of peace before they are put to the sword. Both are beheaded, and both became martyrs for their faith.
Much as we later learn that she is a mother, she purposefully abandoned all that makes her a mother and assumes the position of a girl (Martydon of Perpetua and Felicitas 50). This further demonstrates that all she wants to invest her energy on, is Christ. Upon being baptized, Perpetua is sent to prison together with other several Christian companions and her infant so (Martydon of Perpetua and Felicitas 49). Here, we are able to infer that her relationship with the family is ambiguous and complex. This strained relationship is evident in the way Perpetua presents her own father, whom she views as a devil (Martydon of Perpetua and Felicitas 50). However, by receiving comfort from the brother and mother, she distinguishes herself as a lady who is up to embrace only those who grant her support to serve Christ. By being tormented even by taking care of her son, Perpetua gives the image of a devoted Christian who is ready to devote her whole time, life, and body to Christ (Martydon of Perpetua and Felicitas 51). This implies that she is not ready to take the naturally ties lightly. Also, based on the first half of her story that builds up to the vivid public break with her family roles as a mother and a daughter, Perpetua stands out as a real martyr ready to sacrifice anything for the sake of serving
In his philosophical text, The Republic, Plato argues that justice can only be realized by the moderation of the soul, which he claims reflects as the moderation of the city. He engages in a debate, via the persona of Socrates, with Ademantus and Gaucon on the benefit, or lack thereof, for the man who leads a just life. I shall argue that this analogy reflecting the governing of forces in the soul and in city serves as a sufficient device in proving that justice is beneficial to those who believe in, and practice it. I shall further argue that Plato establishes that the metaphorical bridge between the city and soul analogy and reality is the leader, and that in the city governed by justice the philosopher is king.
For the author, the fact that Perpetua is a woman strengthens her sacrifice for her faith. This is due to the societal norms and customs she disobeys and overcomes to become a martyr. In ancient Rome, they lived in a patriarchal society. This will make her disobedience of her father more noteworthy as it violates the cultural custom. In her writing, Perpetua talks of her father coming to her in the prison. She says “He came up to me to cast down my faith saying: Have pity, daughter, on my grey hairs; have pity on your father, if I am worthy to be called father by you” (The Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas 5). Multiple times, her father comes to her in prison, begging that she say she is not a Christian so she may live. Through this interaction with her father, we can see his fatherly love as he tries to prevent her death. We also see a sort of disgrace that comes from a daughter’s disobedience, she writes that her father says “give me not over to the reproach of men” (The Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas 5). This show of direct disobedience of her father portrays Perpetua as a stronger martyr. She is not only giving her life for her faith, but going against society and customs, saying her beliefs are more important than both. This is a strong example to encourage conversion to Christianity. When Perpetua is in prison, her father tells her to “look upon your son, who will not endure to live after you” (The Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas 5). This leads to another point concerning Perpetua as a woman. If she dies for her faith, she will abandon her child and give up being a mother. In ancient times, much of a women’s identity was in her ability to be a good mother. With her martyrdom, Perpetua will choose faith over this key part of her life and legacy. This, yet again, shows why, by being a woman, Perpetua is a strong example in the author’s purpose to convert
Two great philosophers had individual concepts of tranny that both shared the idea that this form of government was flawed. The first philosopher is named Plato. Plato was born around the year 428 BCE in Athens. He began his philosophy journey when influenced by his mentor Socrates. Socrates was a Greek philosopher who greatly aided in creating what is known as the Western Political Thought. Socrates taught Plato to question all that was around him and go in search for answers. One of the concepts Plato was taught was to question the way that those in Athens were being ruled. Socrates taught Plato that ruling through oppression and force also known as tyranny was far from the correct way to govern. From Socrates learnings Plato developed his own ideas of tyranny. His form of expression,
As in other areas of “The Republic,” Plato carefully outlines the delineations which form the basis for the types of rulers to be installed in the state. “Rulers” (legislative and udicial), “Auxiliaries” (executive), and “Craftsmen” (productive and fficacious) are the titles of the categories and are based, not on birth or wealth, but on natural capacities and aspirations. Plato was convinced that children born into any class should still be moved up or down based on their merits regardless of their connections or heritage. He believes the citizens of the State will support and benefit from such a system and presents the idea in the form of an allegorical myth.
While in prison awaiting her death she wrote down a series of dreams she had which became known as the passio. Perpetua describes how she was baptized while in prison, at which point the Holy Spirit told her not to request anything from her baptism other than the ability to endure physical suffering. Her brother, who is also in prison, asks her to ask God for a vision revealing her whether she would be released or not (25).She then has a dream where she ascends a ladder covered in weapons. Reaching the top she meets a grey haired man dressed as a shepherd surrounded by people dressed in white. This man gives her cheese which she eats before awakening. Following this dream she realizes she and her brother will be martyred. Her father, however, is not a Christian and continues to beg her to renounce her faith (26). Perpetua next has another dream, this time of her brother Dinocrates who died in childhood. He is thirsty but cannot reach the water. Perpetua realizes he is in trouble and so prays for him. She then has another dream where he is capable of reaching the water and drinking (27). In her third and final dream she is lead to the arena she is to die in by the deacon Pomponius. When she arrives there she turns into a man. She then fights with a defeats an Egyptian and is given a branch as a sign of victory. She takes the meaning of this dream to be that she will contend with Satan in the arena (28). To me this entire document seems very strange. All of her dreams seem very disjointed and highly reminiscent of the seemingly random patters the normal way that the mind dreams. While Perpetua may be a saint and a martyr, it seems odd to point to the events of this documents as evidence of spiritual gifts. There is nothing in account of her dreams that seems remotely supernatural or even remarkable. The only theologically interesting part is her relating of the dream concerning her brother he died in childhood as there
In the year 203 Perpetua became a Christian even though she could be killed, because Christians were being persecuted. Her father was worried for her safety and tried to talk her out of converting. At this time, Perpetua was well educated and had baby boy, but it is assumed that she is a widow. Her father continued to dissuade her from converting, but she kept on saying she was a Christian. Her father was so mad she converted, that he attacked her. After the attack she was arrested and imprisoned. Four other catechumens, and a catechist were arrested with or prior to Perpetua. Perpetua was baptized before being taken to prison, and had a conversation with God. At the time of her baptism the Lord told her to pray for endurance during her trial. The prison she was put in was overcrowded and had little light. She was very afraid, but she was very upset to be separated from her baby. Soon, two deacons paid prison guards to put Perpetua and fellow martyr Felicity in a better part of the prison. Her mother and
Plato and Aristotle were both very influential men of there time bringing vast knowledge to the world. I honestly believe that Democracy does a lot of good but it definitely has some common side effects. Out of all of Plato's significant ideas, his best was the idea of democracy opening political decisions to the majority who cannot think on behalf of the community. Aristotle on the other hand is very optimistic when it comes to democracy so it becomes a rather interesting compare and contrast between these to men.
Platonic philosophy begins to appear in the middle dialogues. What are the important elements of this philosophy? The middle dialogues are dominated by the theory of the Forms. This is a theory that Plato developed from certain seldom-stated assumptions that Socrates held. Socrates' view was that the reason he and his interlocutors failed to find definitions for things was that they were stuck in case-based, specific examples. Does bravery mean fighting against a person stronger than yourself, or does it mean having the courage to back down from the fight and accept the insults of cowardice that come with that. Does it mean having the determination to turn your father in for murder, or bravely facing him about it, because he's your father? Such examples are bound to contradict themselves. Socrates felt that there was one bravery that was common to all these braveries, and is what makes them "brave." Plato sculpted this idea into his theory of Forms. The Forms are basically essences, they are that which truly defines a thing. By the time of the Republic, Plato had come around to the view that everything had Forms--not just virtues, but tangible things like beds, chairs, etc. We are surrounded by chairs, but there is a single Form of the "chair" that is common to all of them and makes them what they are.
Traditionally justice was regarded as one of the cardinal virtues; to avoid injustices and to deal equitable with both equals and inferiors was seen as what was expected of the good man, but it was not clear how the benefits of justice were to be reaped. Socrates wants to persuade from his audience to adopt a way of estimating the benefits of this virtue. From his perspective, it is the quality of the mind, the psyche organization which enables a person to act virtuously. It is this opposition between the two types of assessment of virtue that is the major theme explored in Socrates’ examination of the various positions towards justice. Thus the role of Book I is to turn the minds from the customary evaluation of justice towards this new vision. Through the discourse between Cephalus, Polemarchus and Thrasymachus, Socaretes’ thoughts and actions towards justice are exemplified. Though their views are different and even opposed, the way all three discourse about justice and power reveal that they assume the relation between the two to be separate. They find it impossible to understand the idea that being just is an exercise of power and that true human power must include the ability to act justly. And that is exactly what Socrates seeks to refute.
In Plato’s Republic, Glaucon is introduced to the reader as a man who loves honor, sex, and luxury. As The Republic progresses through books and Socrates’ arguments of how and why these flaws make the soul unhappy began to piece together, Glaucon relates some of these cases to his own life, and begins to see how Socrates’ line of reasoning makes more sense than his own. Once Glaucon comes to this realization, he embarks on a path of change on his outlook of what happiness is, and this change is evidenced by the way he responds during he and Socrates’ discourse.
In Book one of the Republic of Plato, several definitions of justice versus injustice are explored. Cephalus, Polemarchus, Glaucon and Thracymicus all share their opinions and ideas on what actions they believe to be just, while Socrates questions various aspects of the definitions. In book one, Socrates is challenged by Thracymicus, who believes that injustice is advantageous, but eventually convinces him that his definition is invalid. Cephalus speaks about honesty and issues of legality, Polemarchus explores ideas regarding giving to one what is owed, Glaucon views justice as actions committed for their consequences, and Socrates argues that justice does not involve harming anybody. Through the interrogations and arguments he has with four other men, and the similarity of his ideas of justice to the word God, Socrates proves that a just man commits acts for the benefits of others, and inflicts harm on nobody.
The Republic is the most important dialogue within Plato's teaching of politics. It deals with the soul, which, as we know from the beginning, at the level where one must make choices and decide what one wants to become in this life, and it describes justice as the ultimate form of human, and the ideal one should strive for both in life and in state. Justice as understood by Plato is not merely a social virtue, having only to do with relationship between people, but virtue that makes it possible for one to build their own regime and reach happiness.
The Republic is an examination of the "Good Life"; the harmony reached by applying pure reason and justice. The ideas and arguments of Plato center on the social settings of an ideal republic - those that lead each person to the most perfect possible life for him. Socrates was Plato's early mentor in real life. As a tribute to his teacher, Plato uses Socrates in several of his works and dialogues. Socrates moderates the discussion throughout, as Plato's mouthpiece. Through Socrates' powerful and brilliant questions and explanations on a series of topics, the reader comes to understand what Plato's model society would look like. The basic plan of the Republic is to draw an analogy between the operation of society as a whole and the life of any individual human being. In this paper I will present Plato’s argument that the soul is divides into three parts. I will examine what these parts are, and I will also explain his arguments behind this conclusion. Finally, I will describe how Plato relates the three parts of the soul to a city the different social classes within that city.