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Plato's Republic
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# : |
13417 |
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Section : |
MODERN THOUGHT
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| Issue
Date : |
6 / 1995 |
704 Words |
| Author
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Kenley Young
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The Greek philosopher Plato was an important and creative thinker of the ancient world, and he ranks among the greatest philosophers of all time. It was he who created the Doctrine of Ideas, the foundation for his theory of knowledge, metaphysics, and his ethical and political theories. Probably his most recognized work is the Republic. In this particular dialogue, Plato reveals what he considers the ideal society, and at the same time he utilizes the Doctrine of Ideas to establish such a society. The opening line of the Republic reads as follows: "I went down to the Peiraeus with Glaucon the son of Ariston." I shall attempt to analyze and discuss this statement in the following paragraphs.
Truthfully, the aforementioned statement is but a portion of the actual opening line. However, this portion will serve my purpose well enough. Before I begin analyzing, it shall behoove the reader to become familiar with at least this specific area of the Republic. In this area, referred to as Book I, it is Socrates, not Plato, who is the narrator. It is he who travels the five miles from Athens to the harbor of Peiraeus with Glaucon. Glaucon happens to be Plato's brother. The duo have made their journey in order to worship Bendis, the Thracian moon-goddess. On the way home, Socrates and Glaucon meet Polemarchus, a young friend, who invites everyone to his house for supper. Soon after the trio arrives, they become involved in a heated debate concerning the definition of justice, and its effects on various people. A young Sophist named Thrasymachus and another brother of Plato, Adeimantus, are also included. Thrasymachus argues that the truly successful men are unjust and cruel. Therefore, why is being just so profitable? Socrates silences the young man by stating that unjust persons are never trusted and this, inevitably, brings about their
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