... do just philosopher kings allow their city and men to evolve into these lesser forms? How is it possible for Plato to basically say that injustice can be created from pure justice? In the Republic, Plato creates a city, a kallipolis, that is ruled by aristocracy, "which is rightly said to be good and ... the first of his inconsistencies in his discussion of the decline of man. How is it that Plato can place into his discussion a man that lives in an unjust city? Throughout the Republic, Plato only deals with his kallipolis, which is unable to decay because it is governed by the just rule...

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• Grade Level: High School

... by creating an artificial equality. His fundamental criticism of democracy is (essentially) that it is an irrational form of the constitution. It is based on the assumption that every citizen is equally entitled to a say in political affairs, no matter how unsuited he is in terms of ability, character ... and guardians of the state. Therefore, the individual is a sort of miniature state, and justice in the soul is like justice in the state. On the contrary, the situation of the unjust, whether state or individual, desires hold a tyranny. Because of a lack of internal control, outside th...

• Word Count: 1296
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... It could mean political freedom, freedom from our basic needs, the persuasion of our wants and happiness, less control, independence, expression, participation the list goes on. All of us have a different belief of what freedom is. We might think we are free or vise versa but not appear to be so to other ... people. In the Republic it seems like the best definition of freedom is the lack of responsibility to one's society. Plato considered freedom the will to do anything you want, and he often considered the excesses of freedom ... son habituates himself to be like his father and to ha...

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• Grade Level: High School

... in which he seeks to define it which provides for such tension. The advantage Plato attributes to justice is that it is health for the soul (P.265). When Socrates is challenged to define justice in The Republic, instead of focusing on its Form of the good, he defines it on a more basic level. Highlighting its advantages, rather than highlighting its worth in providing for ... the good of the individual and the city, is a necessary oversimplification. Plato recognizes that a large majority of those reading his work, as well as ... over shadows with one another and form factions for the ...

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• Grade Level: High School

... such truth is practical or not. More than that, the truth to Plato seems to be unchangeable whether in ideas or philosophy. Plato believes the absolute truth can be applied to every aspect in the society including political organization. Plato, whose political view can be found in his writing, Republic, focus on searching a perfect society. Plato thinks the state is a piece of self-regulating piece of machinery ... . Although Plato does believe a state should bring happiness to majority, he does not recognize that happiness means different to every people in the ... ...

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... Republic of Plato it is evident Socrates has distinct views on life and whether how we live it is just or not. He explains how a just city is important to maintain equalization. What kind of government should we use and where do these governments come from? These are some of the topics described in The Republic of Plato ... city with his power, and he"ll learn that Hesiod was really wise when he said that somehow "the half is more than the whole""( Plato, 145-46). Socrates wants to deny any guardian the basic right to private property. He believes their happiness should come from the si...

• Word Count: 1867
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• Grade Level: High School

... for justice was written in the form of a dialogue by his student Plato, in Plato's Republic. Plato believed the Athenian democracy was on the verge of ruin and was responsible for Socrate's death. This encouraged him to write the Republic. In Plato's ideal society justice ruled. What is Justice? This is the question that ... But Socrates did not do that. Instead he sought after it. He went and asked friends of his the question: What is justice? In Plato's Republic Socrates search for justice is written in the form of a dialogue with three friends, Polemarchus, Thrasymachus, and Glaucon....

• Word Count: 1103
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• Grade Level: High School

... man. And he felt that the ruler must be older, while the ruled younger. Age is something that gives his perfect regime more control than one based on wisdom. He thought that the philosopher should be seen as the father, over the younger people of the city. He also feels that old men are afraid ... would not disobey them but join in the labors of the city.(520d) To him justice is not ones own good, but the common good of the Republic. Plato believed that order was the most important responsibility of a regime and that his ideal one was most suited for this, unlike that of a democracy, whi...

• Word Count: 1947
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... youth in Athens and sentenced to death. One of Socrates most famous students, Plato, established a second school of thought. Flourishing around 400 B. C., Plato contradicted his teacher in that he left many writings, his most famous being The Republic. He believed that a higher world of unchanging forms and ideas existed. If ... of thought was that of Aristotle (384-322 B. C.). He felt that form and matter were one, not two separate concepts. Based on his beliefs that the previous were not separable, he not unlike his teacher, tried to discover the best form of government. He determined ...

• Word Count: 678
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• Grade Level: High School

... hidden machines and a bright flash of light, suddenly I was in a sunny grove wearing a toga, sitting next to me was a man writing on a scroll labeled "The Republic." I realized must be Plato. Plato: Ah hello my young friend, you must be one Professor Einstein's students. How can I help you? Jacob: I really have to get home ... if the professor realized I used his machine he"ll be furious. Plato: Really? You don't want to ask me anything? Jacob: ... for society. They have natural appetites, so laborers must aspire to temperance. Jacob: What would the role of women be in this state? Plat...

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... said by Darth Vader to Obi Wan, it nonetheless provides the perfect setting for the philosophical debate that, in my opinion, would exist today Plato and Aristotle. Aristotle, a student of the Academy, did not believe in Plato's theoretical view of the world. Rather, he felt that the world could be realized at the most elementary level through detailed observation and the cataloging of ... experiences. This was the basis for his belief that knowledge was empirical, or founded on experimentation. To that end, Aristotle has been called the "first known ... always exist as to who was more...

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... to a state in which "the supreme power resides in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is excercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them". In reality a republic is a system of government without a monarch(a person that holds power by birthright). In a Monarchy ,the head of state is a hereditary monarch who symbolises the nation and has all constitutional and ... expel the president under special circumstances. Although there are many models for the government under a republic (about eight)there are only three distinct models for the presidents power. In the fi...

• Word Count: 991
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... private property and shall accept their annual wages as sufficient for acting as Guardians of the state. Adeimantus expresses interest in having Socrates expand on his previous allusion to four types of states or societies. The four are named as the Cretan or Spartan type, oligarchy, democracy, and ... the money required for the above lifestyle are seemingly oblivious to the degeneration of the spirit of their customers. They are unwaveringly focused on their desire for more wealth and are looking for ways to increase their standing with higher interest rates which leads to more poverty...

• Word Count: 2235
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

J.S. Mill believes that one ruler would be the worst form of government. He also believes that democratic republic government would tyrannize the minority. However, does our government "tyrannize" the minority? Should the majority count more than the minority? A monarchy is viewed as evil because the nation can be ... under the control of an unqualified or possibly evil man. The leader of this nation could impose on anyone he wished, and had the freedom to run the nation as only he pleased. The main flaw with this government is the fact that the king wants to get ... assumed government, the...

• Word Count: 254
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... the world when all countries were realizing that there was a better life awaiting them, outside of the long reigned monarch. Enlightenment took the world by storm and had great effects on past rules and regulations. Its ideas, if summed up would include freedom, liberty, equality, and separation of powers. Enlightenment was the scientific and philosophical way of thinking. Scientist brought about ... new ideas and questions about Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Astronomy. Philosophes also came along with their ideas on how to improve the government. Some of the very big philosophes inc...

• Word Count: 1084
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... election scene. Maybe because I was busy then at school or wasn't really aware of my rights. Whatever reasons or causes of my lax on this particular social obligation have brought me to certain realities in life far more discernable now than before. It never occurred to me to question ... , read and write. Nowhere can you find appallingly famous or filthy rich as requirements. But do we agree or disagree with such qualifications. I take my stand on disagreeing. First thing's first, the capacity to manage and lead a government. Sure enough we live in a democratic system but that isn't a ...

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... before them, they each formed unique opinions about the world, life, and how to live. Socrates was a sort of bridge to Plato and Aristotle. In fact, in a way, Socrates and Plato were the same person, a sort of "Plocrates." The Republic, which Plato wrote, is predominantly about the ideas put forth by Socrates. Socrates was infamous for his method of his interrogation and questioning known ... as elenchus. Since Socrates believed that being wise meant being able to realize that you know nothing, he made it a habit to use this sort of cross-examination on people in order to expose ... sa...

• Word Count: 726
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... analogy is regarded as a map, then indeed his allegory of the cave could be described as the actual journey. When Plato wrote "The Republic" he became Socrates most enlightened pupil. As they both dreamed of an almost utopian existence for all societies or "states". They both ... in a more geometrical figure. Which of course leads to understanding and intelligence and the most important of all knowledge. Using this line Plato was drawing out a map for us to follow. Following Plato's line is only half the battle. He drew the road map now we must make the journey, the most difficult part ...

• Word Count: 526
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... This form of government also relied on the citizens to do their part and keep with their "civic duties". Plato's republic would be very orderly and everyone would have a place and need to stick to their job to make the republic function well. Cicero believed in the Roman republic which was made up of ideas ... for the individuals" natural rights and he concluded that the main purpose of government should be to protect those rights. Montesquieu refined the ideas of Plato and Cicero into three basic points. These three things are needed to be fulfilled in order to have a working government...

• Word Count: 754
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... can be no such thing as reliable knowledge of this ever-changing world that is presented to our senses," explains Bryan Magee in The Story of Philosophy. Magee goes on to describe Plato's idea of an inconceivable abstract realm, separate of time and space, and is attainable only by mentality (1). Aristotle argued that if there is only one world that we can ... formal logic as Aristotle understood the subject. The five others deal with types of reasoning that fail to meet Aristotle's requirements of scientific analogy (O"Conner 39). Other very influential aspects of Aristotle's work are ...

• Word Count: 1732
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... ? Not completely is the answer, but is this because they don't actually do what they set out to do or because of inherent flaws in the ideal of democracy? In Plato's Republic Socrates sets out an alternative method of government - the meritocracy. Again this ideal has its practical problems, but how does the ideal compare to democracy? I think that the major problem ... is that the masses have control without knowledge. This can get very dangerous for society as a whole. Without knowledge, the masses will make decisions based on their individual desires and wants which can eventually har...

• Word Count: 1059
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... Therefore, one very large faction won't be able to control things because it's already kind of been split up. Third, he says that without a large republic, not only will you have the problem of tyranny of the majority, but we won't have a unified country. If we become factionalized to the point where ... will be heading towards civil war quite quickly. We'd break up as a nation. What Madison is pretty much arguing is that by having a large republic and by having all of these voices kind of muted in their factions through the process then we can stick together. We won't have a large enough...

• Word Count: 935
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... judicial plan, canceled debt and promoted industry. The system allowed all citizens to take part in the government, which was the first democracy. Cliesthenes later improved on the reforms, creating a council, making Athens a full democracy. Without Solon and Cliesthenes, we probably wouldn't by governed as we do now. We might ... could not create justice and govern themselves. He wrote a book, The Republic, in which he illustrates his perfect society. This book was practiced by Europe for 1,500 years and also gave Greeks his piece of mind. A student out of Plato, Aristotle was a man hu...

• Word Count: 735
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... of names supplied by the Managers."" "The members don't vote for them?- said Castle. "No,"" said Frazier emphatically. (Page 48) Frazier goes on to explain that the Planners are the guiding geniuses of the project, and the Managers the managerial specialists who carry out their programs. The bellicose Castle ... would trouble to ask who rules the miniature kingdom; the inhabitants are unconcerned, and as Frazier points out, would not want to vote on the question anyway. Walden Two does have a government, of course, but the democratic process plays precious little part in its make-up. ......

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• Grade Level: High School

... intends to survive even for a short period, must necessarily confine himself to private life and leave politics alone." David Thoreau would unarguably agree with Plato's quote. For Thoreau, a government has no use due to its injustice. Thoreau emphasizes the importance of self-reliance, and individuality. The purpose ... also." Thoreau was against slavery and the Mexican-American War. Since his government was supporting both of these things, which in many American's view were unjust, he tries to persuade people to cut their ties with the government. The government is doing what is in th...

• Word Count: 1577
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School