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38 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Socrates realisation from early arguments |
The beliefs he holds about morality are inadequate Failure to offer a definition of justice himself Even those who claim to possess knowledge likely do not |
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Cephalus argument |
"doing right" is just paying debts, obeying law, keeping to contracts Cephalus is a rich man - believes that riches help one to be just (will not have to steal or lie).Has spent life making money in a foreign city. Cares more about material, external things than the state of his soul Limited and complacent Exemplifies 'the unexamined life' - not worth living? Has only taken an interest in philosophy due to decline in bodily pleasures. Justice is just performance of simple acts. No interest in the spirit in ehhch they are done; the kind of person you are doesn't matter |
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Socrates response to cephalus |
Pedantic - right to return a borrowed weapon to a mad man? |
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Polemarchus argument |
Justice is giving everyone "what is owed". A moral man harms one's enemies and helps one's friends. An ambitious young politician, hence transactional approach |
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Socrates response to Polemarchus |
Possible to think people are good when they aren't. Difficult to tell friends from enemies. Also, persuades Polemarchus that justice cannot involve harming anyone. "It is never right to harm someone". "People who are harmed become less moral" First evidence of Socrates' own conception of justice? Principle of non-violence |
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Thrasymachus argument |
Justice is the advantage of the stronger. "Morality is nothing other than the advantage of the stronger party". Justice is obeying laws. "Morality... is doing what is to the advantage of the current government' Talk of justice is talk of power, and who holds it |
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Thrasymachus immoralist argument |
Delegitimises justice. Injustice is "stronger and freer and more masterful" than justice. Decided commitment to injustice. Justice benefits the weak, so not a virtue Injustice benefits the agent Unjust man is strong and self-reliant |
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Socrates response to thrasymachus |
Forced to admit he does not have own definition for justice Pedantic - rulers can inadvertently make laws that are not in own interests. Thrasymachus is saying that because government is the stronger party, law will always be in his interests. Vague argument that unjust man is pulling himself apart due to internal conflict. Appetite and reason in conflict. |
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Athens in Melian Dialogue |
"the strong do what they have the power to do, and the weak accept what they have to accept" |
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Function of the soul |
To guide the body. Good, just soul will live well and guide the individual better. Justice therefore means happiness. "Justice is the excellence of the soul" Bad, conflicted soul will not guide well. Thrasymachus would argue that the unjust soul guides best Also, wrong to assign a function to the soul? Not an object. Functions are assigned. |
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Glaucon and Adeimantus argument |
Agree that injustice does not pay, but not satisfied with Socrates' argument |
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Glaucon argument |
Division: things we find desirable in themselves, things we find desirable for their consequences, things we find desirable for both. Socrates chooses third way - neither deontological nor consequentialist Glaucon - justice superior because of its results. Reputation for being just prevents one from being wronged. However, could just appear to be just while actually being unjust (gyges' ring) |
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The City |
Natural unity - people come together due to realisation that cannot be self-sufficient State allows specialisation and division of tasks All needs met as everyone does what they are good at Guardian class - rulers in the state due to best education Perfect city possesses all virtues in balance - wise through good counsel of guardians, courage through auxiliaries etc. Each class performs own role - Harmony Guardians possess self-restraint. "Unanimity and concord" (mastery of oneself) |
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Four kinds of state/individual |
Timocracy - gov by spirit Oligarchy - by appetite Aristocracy - by reason Democracy - by the people |
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Tripartite soul |
Appetite, spirit, reason Perfectly just, integrated man - elements of would kept in proper balance, under chief element of reason. Good life. Perfectly unjust man - far removed from reason. "Friends with nobody" Unjust man is governed by spirit or appetite |
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Philosopher's unique experience |
Experiences all three elements of the soul The philosopher must be right when he says philosopher's life is best. Nobody else competent to judge |
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Real pleasures |
Only just man is capable of experiencing Normal people stimulated by artificial ones (ie just relief from the opposite - the response to a need eg food/drink) Real pleasures are spontaneous and unsought Requires whole soul to obey the rational element (harmony) Just man lives 729x more pleasantly than the unjust |
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Why can only a philosopher be just? |
Justice is culmination of philosopher's training The highest form of knowledge |
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Role of reason |
To "care for the whole soul" |
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The Forms |
Philosopher's state of mind is one of knowledge. Objects are the Forms - beauty, justice etc Highest stage of knowledge is of the Forms. Lower - "intelligible realm". Lowest - "visible realm" "Knowledge is the most powerful of all the faculties" Knowledge is infallible, whereas belief is product of persuasion and can make mistakes |
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The 'Three Waves' |
Equality in education and public duties of male and female Guardians. "Every occupation is open to both men and women so far as their natures are concerned" Abolition of family life for guardians - children held in common, with aim of unity. Eugenic? Doubts about practicality - Socrates response that close to an ideal state could be realised of philosophers ruled. |
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Political role of philosophers |
Reluctant rulers and thus incorruptible Philosopher would care for the city just like function of reason is to "care for the whole soul". Defect of the politician is that he enjoys politics eg Polemarchus Older, wiser men should rule Will subordinate own interests to those of others Dedicated only to truth, so no political ambitions Rule "as an obligation, not a privilege" |
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Allegory of the cave |
People live in illusion People are chained up in a cave, able only to see shadow on the wall Only by breaking out of the cave can people realise its illusion Those in cave would not believe it if told Role of philosopher is to break out of illusion and then enlighten others Liberation is understanding the way the world really is - what real Easier to stay in the cave, but less fulfilling Should have rule by those who are "awake" "The unexamined life is not worth living" - not thinking about how one should live means life has less meaning |
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Role for women |
Should be rested and trained alongside men. "Men and women share everything equally" But are "physically weaker sex" "The weaker sex in all respects" "Innate qualities have been distributed equally among the two sexes" |
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Eugenics |
As little sex as possible within and between the lower classes, or else guardian class is tainted Reward for good fighters - get to sleep with women more frequently |
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Democracy flaws |
Rule by the ignorant many - people without a sure grasp of nature of reality Instead, should be ruled by those who have escaped the cave Good rule matters more than who rules The demos is a mob, ruled by desires and illusions Ship analogy - in a storm, better that the captain operates the ship than the ignorant crew |
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Guardians bad life |
Chosen at a young age Society divided into gold, silver and bronze. Gold class must rule. Family, for Guardians, is abolished. As is private property. Must prevent self-interest from directing most powerful Have "a philosopher's love of knowledge", as well as bravery and strength Sex only at certain times of the year. Partners decided by lot. Children taken and reared together. Ensures no divides loyalties. Guardians treat everyone as family Ensures unity. Children born at wrong time of year would be killed |
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Social mobility |
Silver child may be born to gold parents or gold children to silver parents Children assigned "that status appropriate to its nature" |
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Treatment of slaves |
Slaves captured in war can be treated in any way the capture chooses. Though restraint should be showed to those of greek stock |
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David Sachs |
Socrates fails to show that a balanced soul will lead to the individual acting more justly Shows that it makes the individual happier, but no evidence it will stop the individual from committing unjust acts eg theft/murder, or make the individual do socially just things |
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Karl Popper |
A totalitarian text Eugenics Concentrated power among an elite group String military. |
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Richard Kraut |
Balanced soul does lead to justice because the philosopher will only desire knowledge, not satisfaction of desires (which often leads to unjust actions) |
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John Cooper |
Philosopher's knowledge of good will motivate him to act against own interests and do something that is good for others. Defence of philosopher king |
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Thrasymachus on immorality |
"immorality has more power, licence and authority than morality" "Immorality is profitable and advantageous to oneself" |
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Socrates on philosopher kings |
"political power should be held by those who are not enamoured of it" |
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Glaucon on justice |
Most see as a necessary evil - only desirable to avoid punishment "The nuisance category of things" |
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Socrates on exclusivity of philosophy |
"only a tiny number of people... have a right of consort with philosophy" "Sightseers of the truth" "Know reality as reality" |
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Aim of harmonious city/soul |
"perfect peace" |
