Socrates Principle Of Division Analysis

In Rep. IV at 436b-c, Socrates puts forth the the principle of division. This principle provides a means to rationally and plausibly divide the soul into parts. Socrates states that the “same thing will not be willing to do or undergo opposites in the same part of itself, in relation to the same thing, at the same time” (436b). What this means is that a single body can not have opposite processes that occur simultaneously. For example, Socrates provides the example of someone who is standing still while their hands and head move (436c). There is a whole body, and that body has parts; some of which move and other that do not. Socrates uses this analogy to explain that the body is not a single thing, rather is it a collection of different parts. …show more content…
In other words, he suggests that the soul, as a whole, has parts that are divided up into areas much like the body. For example, consider the virtue or desire to be healthy. Socrates suggest that while there is a desire to be healthy, there is also an opposite desire to be unhealthy. These opposite capacities are the kind that exist simultaneously. Since they exist at same time, Socrates would say that they are in direct opposition to each other in the soul. In essence, Socrates is saying that each part of the soul has its own capacity and these capacities can be in opposition to each other. This is how the principle of division operates in the soul.
Socrates goes on to suggest that reason is what can rectify the the opposition of desires in the soul. For example, imagine that there is both a salad and a pizza in front of us. You have been trying to eat healthy the past month so the initial thought is to eat the salad. But, at the same time the gooey pizza tempts you with its sweet aroma. This is when reason comes into play. On one hand, reason can succeed and we will eat the salad. On the other hand, we could lose out to our reason and have the delicious pizza. This is how the opposition in the soul can be …show more content…
It could be the case that the desire to be healthy operates on a spectrum of being healthy and unhealthy. In other words, it is not the case that there are two opponent desires operating at the same time; in reality, it could be the case that there is just one desire that operates on a spectrum. For example, there can be a desire to be healthy; or eat a salad. It is not the case that eating a pizza is a desire to be unhealthy. A desire to be unhealthy does not need to exist at all. It can be the case that we desire to be healthy, but at the same time there is a desire to taste good things. They are not opposite desires. The desire to taste good things can lead to eating the pizza. In other words, there does not have to be equal and opposite desires that work against a desire. If we do unhealthy actions it can be because another