Plato's Idea Of A Just City Analysis

Plato retained strong opinions on the importance of philosophers in a utopian society. Carefully laying out pieces of his idea of a just city, Plato places the philosophers as the leaders. As he explains, a city will fall into any number of temptations if it lacks philosophers, those who understand they know nothing and still strive to achieve true knowledge. Correctly, he states that without a moral foundation this ideal city inevitably crumbles into dust, like so many other cities before it. Just cities require the philosophy forged from Christianity, however Plato’s view of justice is incorrect. Plato’s ideas of just government relate to his idea for a just soul. Reason, spirit, and appetite make up the tripartite soul. These three factors further explain Plato’s four types of unjust government. First, he analyzes the concept of a timocracy. Timocracy, a society that loves honor, values spirit over appetite and reason. Plato specifically states …show more content…
Any definition of justice without God falls short. Since a just city requires God, and God orders his people to seek wisdom, philosophy is a vital aspect of a just city. Take away God’s law, and injustice reigns. One must tread carefully when dealing with such important topics. Worldviews without God, like that of Plato, sound appealing and logical while in reality they only lead to imperfection and sin. Even using all of the criterion for a just government using Plato’s standards, building a true just city without God remains impossible. For those wishing to create a just city, God lays out clear instructions, “Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it