Plato’s Republic: Book I
In Book I of Plato’s Republic sets the stage for the course the rest of the Books as it introduces the main themes, mainly, what is justice? Upon Socrates’ returning from a religious festival he is greeted by Adeimantus (a brother of Plato) and Polemarchus (a young nobleman) who insist he make a detour to the home […]
Plato’s Republic Book II
Book II deals with a few different subject matters which are very interesting. The first is whether or not justice in its most abstract form is something which people truly desire . Socrates is challenged to prove that justice is practiced just for its own sake, as well as for the consequences which it will bring. […]
Plato’s Republic Book V
Book V begins with Polermarchus expressing to Socrates that he thinks he is “slacking off” (bk V, 449a-450b, p. 123) and cheating them since he isn’t exploring more practical questions regarding the state. Polermarchus wants Socrates to address social concerns such as education, the family, and community. Although Socrates does not want to addresses […]
Republic book 1
Much of book one deals with the (fairly pessimistic, in my opinion) debate of whether justice or injustice is more beneficial. According to Thrasymachus, justice is simply the advantage which any given ruler has in that they can shape the official concept of it to meet their personal needs. Rather than seeing it as an […]
Thrasymachus and the Unjust
Thrasymachus’s view on justice interests me. In a compelling argument, Thrasymachus claims that an unjust person has the ability to achieve the best life. He believes that on a large scale, those who are unjust profit and benefit more than those who are just. I find that his view on justice is very materialistic. Much […] Continue reading →
Plato, Republic
Christina Hendricks gives the historical political context in which Plato wrote this text, talks about the Socratic elenchus and how it is exemplified in Book I, and discusses the parallel structure of the kallipolis and the soul.