TOW #21 IRB book 1-4

Aaron Pieroni

Tow#21 IRB Plato’s The Republic

            The Republic is possibly the most popular, as well as the most philosophical, of the Socratic dialogues written by Plato.  In The Republic Plato discuses what justice really is and how a ruler can be just with other philosophers, and wealthy individuals, from his time.   Throughout the dialogue Plato is speaking as his teacher, Socrates.  Plato and Socrates are both well respected mathematicians and philosophers and are still studied today to understand complex topics and how to lead people of many European nations.   Plato’s main audiences of The Republic are the leaders of Greece and other nations as well as other philosophers.

            Plato’s main argument in the first 4 books of The Republic is that a just city-state can be broken down into three groups.  The producers and traders (common man), whose only goal in life is to dedicate them selves to a single craft like blacksmithing, farming or trading.  The second class is the Auxiliary class, the warriors; their job is to defend the city and to protect the laws of the guardians.  The guardians, which is lead by the philosopher king, is the final class who are keep justice in the society.  A philosopher king is meant to be devoted to their state and would abstain from most personal desire and acquiring personal wealth.  In essence making life seem like the least enjoyable profession from an outside perspective.

            However, it is the goal of the philosopher king to make all classes happy.  A king should not favor one class but equally make the whole state happy.  While explaining the importance of this happiness Plato likeness this too painting a statue, “Sir, you would not surely have us beautify the eyes to such a degree that they are no longer eyes; consider rather whether, by giving this and the other features their due proportion, we make the whole beautiful” (Plato 117)

            This comparison effectively compares how by privileging one group more then another they no longer are a piece of the state but are above it, rather then making the whole state “beautiful“.