StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...

Plato - The Republic - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The question of this essay is that “it makes no difference, then, that Kallipolis does not exist and never will.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why? The answer to that question is yes Kallipolis was not a real city and only really existed in Plato’s mind…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER96.7% of users find it useful
Plato - The Republic
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Plato - The Republic"

Download file to see previous pages

as a real philosopher named Plato and was somewhat of a contemporary of Plato (Socrates died when Plato was but twenty-five), the ideas accredited to Socrates are generally thought to be Plato originals and Reeve acknowledges as much (Reeve 2004 P xi). So through his own observations of the Republic Reeve puts forth an interesting argument that Plato felt strongly in the goodness of Kallipolis (in Greek the beautiful or noble city) and was very eager to broadcast his ideas through the argument/debate process written in the Republic.

In the introduction, Reeve points out that Plato’s main theme in Kallipolis is not the bylaws which govern the city. Instead, the speaker talks of the value of a social structure based entirely on virtue, achieved in ways not the least of which is the education of all people (Reeve 2004 P xix). This includes females, which is not a very favourable idea among his conversationalists. So almost from the first Plato realizes this vision of utopia (a term coined by Sir Thomas Moore almost 1,900 years later) would never actually exist.

In the Republic, Book 1 finds Socrates and his companion Glaucon returning from a religious festival only to find themselves literally forced to spend at least the night with a man named Polemarchus, his brothers and his aged father Cephalus. Wiling away the time the men get into a deep philosophical discussion concerning politics and money. As happens with the elderly, Cephalus is happy with the money he has made and expounds that at his age, having virtues (i.e. not cheating or lying) is far more important than the wealth he has accumulated (Reeve 2004 P 5).

So the conversation naturally turns to virtue and two subjects brought up are paying one’s debts and helping a friend with his enemy (your enemy is my enemy). Plato rejects these, not on the basis of not being just ideas, but rather that they are mostly hard to define, for each situation is different (in battle, at sea, etc.) and says he

...Download file to see next pages Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Plato - The Republic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved de https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1606487-plato-the-republic
(Plato - The Republic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words)
https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1606487-plato-the-republic.
“Plato - The Republic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1606487-plato-the-republic.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Plato - The Republic

The Effects of Good Lie in Plato's Republic

The goal of the following essay "The Effects of Good Lie in Plato's republic" is to briefly examine the book "republic" by Plato on the subject of negative and positive implications of a lie.... hellip; According to plato, bad lies are mainly misrepresentations' that destroy the truth about the gods by accrediting to them the contrary to the much-intended idea of divinity.... plato, the RepublicAccording to plato, bad lies are mainly misrepresentations' that destroy the truth about the gods by accrediting to them the contrary of the much intended idea of divinity....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

Justice Is a Bondage That People Choose to Avoid Suffering the Punishment of Injustice

the republic.... Injustice always gets more (plato.... Glaucon view on justice is that it is a necessary evil that people allow themselves to suffer to avoid a much greater evil of impunity (plato.... Injustice rewards all that practise it, with honour and wealth, as it allows one to indulge in all his urges (plato.... One seeks injustice for one's sake while justice is only for something more, the rewards it brings along (plato....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

Q (VE1) or Q (VE2)

the republic: Book II.... du/Plato/republic.... If I were the shepherd in plato's story (plato par 1-7), I would consider it ethical to wear the ring because the powers that come with it are bound to bring me a feeling of protection and, subsequently, happiness....
1 Pages (250 words) Research Paper

Summary of Platos The Republic Book IV

Summary of Plato's the republic Book IV In book IV, Plato tries to defend the strength of thecity by assuming the city is content with its performance.... “the republic”.... In book IV, plato tries to defend the strength of the city by assuming the city is content with its performance.... Therefore, in this paper, the writer will attempt to prove plato right by showing that the states happiness represents the happiness of the individuals....
1 Pages (250 words) Coursework

Important information on book IV of the Republic

The following paper tells an important information on book IV of the republic.... Important information on book IV of the republic The book is about the lifestyle of the guardians and the overall assessment of the as a whole.... the republic.... The ruler cannot do things that people think make them pleased(plato 419).... If the city would be run by non-law makers, then all the power would be left with the guardians (plato 420)....
1 Pages (250 words) Coursework

Psychological Issues in Social and Political Philosophy

The paper "Psychological Issues in Social and Political Philosophy" discusses that in contrast to Marx, plato's perspectives on human ignorance and an ideal state cannot be considered flawless also because they are inextricably linked to his own emotional conflicts.... hellip; Generally, observing the psychological mechanisms and consequences underlying theories presented by both philosophers, Marx and plato, adds a lot to our understanding of many fundamental social and political notions like alienation, depression, suffering, freedom, justice, equality, and political authority....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Plato and Utopia

The paper "Plato and Utopia" states that the idea of Utopia first originated in the work of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, particularly in his book the republic.... nbsp;plato attempts to outline the best possible conditions for mankind to experience the perfect life.... nbsp;  … plato points out how important it is for each individual to feel as if they are fully in control of their own decisions and challenges in life as well as the importance of shaping their education in such a way that they will choose to support the status quo....
1 Pages (250 words) Book Report/Review

Republic by Plato

rdquo; (Plato, 211-2) Therefore, Plato's the republic has been one of the most enlightening books on the role of the rulers and the education of effective rulers who can be the true guardians of the state.... This book review "republic by Plato" presents one of the most influential books of philosophy and political theory and the author is engaged in an ideal state in the book....             In Plato's republic Plato wrote of Socrates' encounter with several characters to determine justice and other philosophical truth....
1 Pages (250 words) Book Report/Review
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us