Plato s Republic A Practical Approach - 1904 Words

In Plato’s Republic, Socrates engages in a theoretical discussion to understand the nature of justice and virtues which ultimately will lead to the Form of the Good and happiness in the soul. Likewise, in Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle takes a practical approach to discern how to achieve Eudaimonia, the universal good, through virtues. Although they both agree that virtues are detrimental in attaining the good, they have different accounts of what â€Å"good† is, and have different means of achieving it. Socrates first discusses the proper virtues and functions in the individual by imploring a hypothetical ideal city state in order to discover what it takes to reach the Form of the Good. Using elenchus, Socrates and his fellow†¦show more content†¦It’s an agreement that the naturally better part should rule over the worse. The last virtue left is justice, which is doing one’s work and not involving themselves in other people’s practices, which gives way to the previous virtues mentioned. This is parallel to the soul, as there are three parts which are the appetitive, rational, and spirited. The appetitive part deals with desires, passions, and thirsts, while the rational part involves wisdom and reasoning on how to rule the soul, helping to combat the appetitive part. The spirited part works with the rational part of the soul to help control the appetites, and courage is found in spirit. We know what enrages us when we are treated unjustly. Temperance ar ises when the three parts of the soul agree that reason should rule, which promotes justice and the soul will be in harmony. Justice is concerned with a person’s inward self, and with the appropriate balance of the various parts of the soul. Justice is a natural harmony, and the person will be able to do just things if they maintain this internal state. Harmony of the soul promotes happiness, and a just person will live well. Happiness and well-being can be achieved through harmony of the soul due to justice, but the Form of the Good is still not reached. Socrates believes that the Guardians should be philosophers, sinceShow MoreRelatedMachiavelli Plato Rebuplic Prince Comparison1419 Words   |  6 PagesHaà ¾im Cihan Demirkà ¶prà ¼là ¼, 20303433 Essay Question: Compare the Characteristics of the true guardians, as described by Plato (Republic, bk VII, pp.158 #8211; 61, 484b #8211; 487e) with the characteristics of the rulers, as described by Machiavelli (The Prince, ch.15, pp. 47 #8211; 49 and ch. 18, pp.54f). What is the most important difference between the two accounts? In your view, which account is better, and why? For centuries, every ruler created their own principles and rules and somehowRead MoreThomas Hobbes And Plato s The Leviathan And The Republic1496 Words   |  6 PagesThis is especially true for the term â€Å"justice†. The philosophers Hobbes and Plato both exhibit their own beliefs towards its interpretation through their respective stories, the Leviathan and the Republic. Instead of simply stating his view, Plato takes it to another level. He brings up a multitude of possibilities for the meaning of justice, arguing with himself and shooting down his own theories. The purpose of his Republic is to find the best and most logical definition of justice through discussionRead MoreAncient Greece : Idealistic Views And Political Influences Essay829 Words   |  4 Pagesof the Greek community. Subsequently, the plan goes on to influence the way we plan our cities today. This essay will explore the key figures that led to the change in Greek Hellenistic town planning in particular Hippodamus of Mileus, alongside Plato. It will explore their idealistic views that were translated into the urban plan as well as social and political forces that influenced the orthogonal planning. It is noteworthy to mention the importance the key figures and political organization hadRead MorePlato And Aristotle s Views On Life And Political Regime1990 Words   |  8 Pages Aristotle and Plato. Aristotle and Plato were philosophers who lived in Athens, Greece who critically studied matters of human life, political rule, human nature, and therefore wrote on the subjects. Plato s ideals are theoretically based and although Aristotle was one of his students his thoughts and ideas are more practical and biologically orientated than Plato s ideals. Although Plato and Aristotle have similar ideas on ideal human life and political regime there approach on both is distinctRea d MoreThe Founding Of The U.s. Political System1766 Words   |  8 Pagesof Greek historians and orators who possessed backgrounds (and concerns) that were similar to the Founder’s themselves, in developing the structure of American Democracy. The Founders’ literature also abounded with references to Homer, Sophocles, Plato, Euripides, Herodotus, Thucydides, Cleisthenes, Xenophon, Aristotle, Strabo, Lucian, Dio, Polybius, Plutarch, and Epictetus from Greece. The democracy of Athens influenced the founding of the U.S. political system. Ancient Athens is considered toRead MoreImportance Of Education Essay1824 Words   |  8 Pagespaper for the purposes of societal cultivation and human growth. One, that the Arts are critical to human development the growth of society. And two, a practical approach at implementing arts education within the Fairbanks community without relying on public school system. Early childhood and adolescent development are critical times in a human s life especially when it comes to facilitating intelligence growth. Having access to education and art is essential during these times, as it helps to acquireRead MorePlato and Confucius4610 Words   |  19 PagesWestern ethical theory has been deeply influenced by Plato’s Republic, Eastern ethical theory has been deeply influenced by Confucius’s Analects. David Haberman describes the Republic as ‘one of the most influential books of all time’ (86). And Bryan Van Norden compares (with considerable fervor) the Analects to ‘the combined influence of Jesus and Socrates’ (3). On the surface, there are many similarities between Confucius and Plato. Both taught through means of dialogue, and both expressed reticenceRead MoreThe Ethical Theories Of Philosophy Essay2014 Words   |  9 PagesSurname 9 Name: Instructor s name: Course: 13 April 2016 ETHICAL THEORIES IN PHILOSOPHY Section one: Introduction Part of being human is the ability to distinguish good from bad and vice versa (Rachels 9). Human nature is a ground for practical and moral norms that is; morality directs us to real human fulfilment. Great thinkers have formulated and developed a significant number of enduring moral principles over the centuries. Philosophy, like other social fields and also like individualsRead More Matthew Arnold versus Aristotles Poetics Essay examples3833 Words   |  16 Pagespiece of work where he more specifically refers to Aristotelian ideas of imitation. This is the 1853 Preface to The Poems of Matthew Arnold 1840-1866. I will therefore, where appropriate, compare and contrast this Preface to the Poetics. Such an approach gives us a chance to look at Aristotle in his own right, and also to gauge his influence, or otherwise, on Arnold. I have also chosen the Arnold Preface because it is manageable in length, and because, as Stefan Collini says in his book ArnoldRead MoreThe Statement Of Teaching Philosophy1775 Words   |  8 Pagesattainment of knowledge, standards mastery, and the ability to reason come second to a student s overall well-being. Elements of behaviorism, essentialism, progressivism, existentialism and perennialism have influenced educational philosophy plans. According to Jax (n.d.), â€Å"The philosophy of education began with Plato when he discussed in The Republic the education of warriors and philosopher-kings. Plato believed that the education of warriors was to instill knowledge, whereas the education of philosopher-kings