Throughout the Republic, Plato mentions the soul several times. Plato agrees that the soul is immortal and separate from the body. He also believes that the soul is eternal and according to Plato, the soul doesn’t come into existence with the body, but rather exists prior to being with the body. He believed that the soul exists inside the body until it dies. Because of this, Plato called the body the prison to the soul.
One of the main arguments Plato makes is that the soul has the function of “caring for things, ruling and deliberating (Republic, 353d).” He goes on to add that living is also an essential part of the soul. We can conclude from this that a good soul cares, rules, deliberates, and lives well, while a bad soul does none of these …show more content…
He goes on to add that the natural attachment of spirit and honor and to recognize the esteem of others (Republic, 581a). He adds that the soul is oftentimes responsible for self-assertion and ambition. When the soul’s desires aren’t met, we oftentimes react with emotional responses such as anger and leads to behavior that naturally flows from these responses. Socrates adds that spirit is the natural ally of reason and part of its function is to support reason between it and our appetites (Republic, 440ef, 442ab).
To assign the soul this function is not to say that the corrupt or unjust soul can turn against reason. Even if Glaucon is not familiar with such corruption, even in his own case or the case of others (Republic, 440b). When it comes to appetite, the soul is mostly concerned with food, drink, and sex (Republic, 439d, 580e). It gives rise to to desires which in each case are based on the desires of things that are pleasant. Socrates goes on to explain that part of our desires and appetites are the love of money, because with money most of our primary desires are filled (Republic,
One of the main arguments Plato makes is that the soul has the function of “caring for things, ruling and deliberating (Republic, 353d).” He goes on to add that living is also an essential part of the soul. We can conclude from this that a good soul cares, rules, deliberates, and lives well, while a bad soul does none of these …show more content…
He goes on to add that the natural attachment of spirit and honor and to recognize the esteem of others (Republic, 581a). He adds that the soul is oftentimes responsible for self-assertion and ambition. When the soul’s desires aren’t met, we oftentimes react with emotional responses such as anger and leads to behavior that naturally flows from these responses. Socrates adds that spirit is the natural ally of reason and part of its function is to support reason between it and our appetites (Republic, 440ef, 442ab).
To assign the soul this function is not to say that the corrupt or unjust soul can turn against reason. Even if Glaucon is not familiar with such corruption, even in his own case or the case of others (Republic, 440b). When it comes to appetite, the soul is mostly concerned with food, drink, and sex (Republic, 439d, 580e). It gives rise to to desires which in each case are based on the desires of things that are pleasant. Socrates goes on to explain that part of our desires and appetites are the love of money, because with money most of our primary desires are filled (Republic,