Plato’s Republic Books

I. Overview 1. Recap 2. The Philosopher and the City – The Cave – So What? 3. Autonomy & Political Authority 4. Tyrannical vs Philosophical Lives

I. Recap Guardians can make sure you perform your jobs correctly -- (contra freedom) Celebration of freedom increases only when distinction between Right/Wrong decreases. If we truly care about morality, then we will want to limit individual freedom

II.The Philosopher & The City: Allegory of the Cave

Allegory of The Cave (VII, 514a-518)

II.The Philosopher & The City: Allegory of the Cave Point of the story? – Plato suggesting that it is wrong to treat best moral specimen as equal to average ditch digger Tie to Plato’s defense of Socrates – Athens needed to tolerate Socrates Note, philosopher has nothing to gain by going back to rule city… philosopher must be forced to rule

II.The Philosopher & The City: Allegory of the Cave So What? – How would ideal city come about? – Philosopher would have to convince city that they need philosophers to rule, and philosophers don’t want to rule – Not likely proposition -- city in speech unlikely to come up – So no major problem, right?

II.The Philosopher & The City: So What? What is at issue between city and philosopher? Philosopher assumes that nothing can be accepted without question Philosophy undermines the necessary social/cultural mores of city since

III. Autonomy & Political Authority We need to figure things out for ourselves -- do the right thing for the right reason But lawgiver (political authority) depends on our unreflected acceptance of authority Authority means doing whatever lawgiver says without questioning. Not making decision based on our own reason Political association is based on authority

III. Autonomy & Political Authority Can’t both think for yourself and have political authority Tension between being good citizen and good person We can’t say “so what” because the plight of Socrates is our plight

III. Autonomy & Political Authority How to assess which should come first in guiding our behavior? Myth of Er Moral man should tell city to take a hike, since soul is more important than city

IV.Philosophical vs. Tyrannical Lives Why not become a tyrant since city is trying to tyrannize us? Answer is not based on altruism (do it because it’s good for everyone else, even if it does mean sacrificing me) Tyrant is the biggest slave of all because…

IV.Philosophical vs. Tyrannical Lives Tyrant is slave to other people – Tyrant is subordinate of people he is enslaving since he needs to buy off henchmen to enslave other – Needs to make it worthwhile for henchmen to do his bidding

IV.Philosophical vs. Tyrannical Lives Tyrant is attempting self-defeating enterprise – tyrant is governed by spirited part of soul – can’t stand appearing subordinate, so he/she wants to be experienced in a certain way – wants to reduce everyone to Lowest Common Denominator – but that would mean he would get recognition of a bunch of bozos (i.e., people for whom he has no respect) – anyone who could appreciate his virtue would need to be killed as rival

IV.Philosophical vs. Tyrannical Lives Not only is the tyrant A slave to other people and Engaged in a silly self-defeating enterprise, but …

IV.Philosophical vs. Tyrannical Lives Slave to own passions – if freedom means doing what you want to do, then the tyrant isn’t free – philosopher is free because he is slave only to reason

IV.Philosophical vs. Tyrannical Lives Tyrant’s Life Philosopher’s Life Life choices Reflects on the kind of life one ought to live and then lives it Makes choices at specific moments in life, but never reflects on the overall quality of that life

IV.Philosophical vs. Tyrannical Lives Lifestyle choice Freedom is doing what you want to do upon reflection, not what want to do particular moments That’s impossible when either the spirited or appetitive part of the soul dominates

IV.Philosophical vs. Tyrannical Lives To return to Socrates, Socrates most free because he is living the kind of life he most wants to live, it is an expression of his own informed choices You could not choose to be any different than Socrates if you want freedom That’s the final apology for Socrates

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