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Plato: - The Republic (Book I) And Others

            Stuff to know: The following is a brief summary of some of the readings and some of LTs expressed thoughts on them. It is not intended as a way to avoid doing those readings. a) .
             Gunther: - Argues for free speech despite admitting the harm that various forms of speech can have (he was raised as a Jew in Nazi Germany). - Has an 'absolutist' interpretation of the first amendment, where any attempt to curb the scope of free speech should be viewed with "skepticism and suspicion". - Argues that it is only the political extremes, who either reject the constitution or would have it not apply to their political opponents that typically argue for censorship. - Unlike Bork, he feels that protection of the first amendment is protection of the "anti-majority" LT: Best to let free speech reign and have people learn to argue their case against racial slurs etc. Creates a more empowered society. Restricting speech disempowers. Showing empowerment will render racial slurs impotent. - Being harmful not sufficient for being banned. Equality only real when people have the power to speak and rise up in moral indignation against those who would use racial slurs and the like. Part of Gunther's point (according to LT) is that democracy only works when the people are worthy of it (i.e. when they are willing to rise up and speak against racists etc.) Bottom line: speech hurts but not as much as censorship. b) .
             Berger: - another 'absolutist' - Clever style of argument: does not stand on first amendment but looks to conservatives claim that pornography can cause the harm they say it does. The style? Take an issue that is deadlocked and try to find some other way to argue the point. (Example: abortion debate - deadlocked on whether fetus is a person and hence deserves person-rights) - 2nd clever style of argument: pulls up presuppositions. The conservative claim that sex becomes cheapened and perverted by porn seems to rely on a particular conception of sex that is not shared by everyone (perhaps by no one other than the conservatives themselves!) - Fear of conservatives: that people will merely use one another for sex.


Essays Related to Plato: - The Republic (Book I) And Others

1. Plato : The Republic

Socrates and other philosophers argue about justice in the book, Plato's The Republic. ... The ideas and arguments of Plato center on the social settings of an ideal republic- those that lead each person to a more perfect life. ... Nevertheless, Plato's Republic has come to be known as a great philosophical masterpiece. ... I believe it is true that this book holds the basis to be all-inclusive and hold an all-knowing narrative. ... I find the book to be either a supreme text that dabbles into issues I cannot begin to fully comprehend, or to care no weight at all- simply the...

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2. Plato

I find The Republic to be very interesting because Plato talks about the different levels of cognition. ... According to the book Great Thinkers of the Western World, in the Republic, Plato sets forth the simile of the line by which he divides all knowledge into the realm of opinion and the realm of true knowledge. ... According to the article Plato's Republic by Jenny Hen, Plato makes a connection between the principle of justice and his Theory of Forms. ... Plato believed that wisdom, courage, moderation and justice together form The Republic. ... I agree with Plato's philosoph...

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3. The Republic Summary

The Republic Summary In reading Plato's The Republic, learning to appreciate works from around 366 BC in sch a modern 21st Century world is a quite wonderful and informative privilege. Although we were not assigned to read the whole book, I have learned many ways in which Plato and Socrates think, among with the other characters. ... Adeimantus and Glaucon, brothers of Plato, are loquacious contributors in Plato's book. Both brothers are favored equally and received much respect from Plato. ... The first book we have been assigned is Book IV. ...

  • Word Count: 386
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  • Grade Level: High School

4. Plato

The other thing we need to know about Platonic philosophy in the Republic (actually, this is true in all of his works) is that Plato believes wholeheartedly in an objective human Good, and he feels it is the goal of philosophy to find that Good. ... Characters Plato - Athenian philosopher, author of the Republic. ... Socrates had, by far, more influence than any other philosopher on the young Plato's intellectual development. ... He is important in book I, when Socrates submits his definition of justice to the elenchus and dismantles it, but after that he fades from the discussion. ...

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5. republic of plato

(Book I, 331b). ... (Book I, 328, 329) The name Polemarchus means leader in battle and you can see it portrayed in the book since from the start Polemarchus is the one who keeps Socrates going with the argument of justice. ... I doubt it. ... I doubt it. ... The Republic of Plato, trans. ...

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6. Feminism and Plato

The fifth book of Plato's Republic contains conversation between Glaucon and Socrates surrounding the well being of the state and the idea that increased female participation can improve the general attributes of society. ... "...For people born and educated as we have described, then, there is, I believe, no correct way to acquire and employ children and women other than to follow the path on which we first set them.... " (Plato, Republic, 451e) Plato introduced an educational system for women and men to take part in military and musical training, while interacting with each o...

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7. Plato

Plato's The Cave Allegory, a dramatic myth told in the seventh book of the Republic, is a prime example of an author who attempts to answer the question why it is important to "philosophize". ... It can definitely be puzzling at first, however, it is worth while, just like it was worth while for the prisoner to see the sun, feel the warmth of it and all the other surroundings. ... The others don't believe that what the prisoner is telling them is true, because the shadows of the cave are everything that the prisoners have ever been exposed to so they cannot believe otherwise. This...

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8. Plato and Gender Equality

In Plato's The Republic, gender equality within society is explored. Book V describes his ideal community which includes producers, guardians, and rulers. ... In Plato's society, "if either the class of men or that of women shows superiority in some art or other practice, then we"ll say that art must be assigned to it" (454c). ... The most debatable passage in The Republic, however, is found in Book V where the argument that women should be assigned lighter tasks because of "the weakness of the class" (457a). ... In Book V of The Republic, Plato argues that men and women are equal, ...

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9. Plato Critique of Democracy

Plato throughout the book rejected the idea that all men are equals. ... All others have varying degrees of unhappiness. ... In the Republic, Plato has many ideals, but in reality ideals are not reality. ... http://www.gla.ac.uk/departments/philosophy/Greek-Plato/Background.html ClassicNotes: The Republic Book VIII?. http://www.classicnote.com/ClassicNotes/Titles/republic/summ8.html. ...

  • Word Count: 1296
  • Approx Pages: 5
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10. Plato's Homer

Throughout his lifetime he wrote many books, one entitled The Republic: Book X, which deals with his opinion of the perfect society. In that book Plato talks about his love for art, but according to him, his perfect society did not have room for art. ... Plato believed in only rational approaches in life, while Homer, as we can see in Book Twenty-Two of The Odyssey, based most of his poetry on emotion. Although Homer has withstood the test of time over the past few centuries, his poetry is a prime example of why Plato wouldn't allow him or any other artist as part of his perfect society. ...

  • Word Count: 734
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

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