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ahopt > plato > Flashcards

plato Flashcards

1
Q

Who was Plato, and what shaped his political philosophy?

A

Plato (427-347 BCE) was an Athenian philosopher, student of Socrates, influenced by the execution of Socrates and the political turmoil of his time.

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2
Q

What historical events shaped Plato’s worldview?

A

The emergence of democracy, the Peloponnesian War, the rule of the Thirty Tyrants, and the restoration of democracy.

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3
Q

What is the central idea attributed to Socrates in Plato’s philosophy?

A

Humanity will not escape its problems until philosophers rule or rulers become philosophers.

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4
Q

What is the primary question in Plato’sThe Republic?

A

“What is justice?”

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5
Q

How does Cephalus define justice, and why does Plato reject this definition?

A

Justice as being honest and giving each their due; rejected for failing to specify what is “due.”

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6
Q

How does Polemarchus define justice, and why does Plato reject it?

A

Justice as doing good to friends and harm to enemies; rejected because it is not just to harm anyone.

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7
Q

How does Thrasymachus (1) define justice, and why is it dismissed?

A

Justice as the interest of the strongest; dismissed as incoherent.

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8
Q

How does Thrasymachus (2) define justice, and why is it rejected?

A

Justice as adherence to promises; rejected because unjust acts can sometimes be beneficial.

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9
Q

What analogy does Plato use to define justice?

A

The analogy between the city (polis) and the soul (psyche).

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10
Q

What are the three classes in Plato’s ideal city (Kallipolis)?

A

Rulers (philosopher-kings/queens), auxiliaries (soldiers), and producers (farmers, craftsmen).

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11
Q

What virtues correspond to the three classes inKallipolis?

A

Wisdom for rulers, courage for auxiliaries, and temperance for all classes.

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12
Q

How is justice achieved in the ideal city?

A

When each class performs its proper function without interfering with others.

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13
Q

What are the three parts of the soul in Plato’s philosophy?

A

Reason (logos), spirit (thymos), and appetite (epithymia).

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14
Q

How is justice achieved in the soul?

A

When reason governs, spirit supports reason, and desire is controlled.

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15
Q

What are the parallels between the city and the soul in terms of justice?

A

Justice in the city involves harmony among classes, while justice in the soul involves harmony among its parts.

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16
Q

What is Plato’s theory of forms?

A

A two-world ontology where the sensory world is variable and deceptive, while the world of forms is everlasting, true, and unchangeable.

17
Q

What is the highest form in Plato’s metaphysics?

A

The Form of the Good, the source of order and happiness.

18
Q

What is the Allegory of the Cave, and what does it represent?

A

A metaphor for the difference between the sensory world and the world of forms, emphasizing the role of thought and philosophy in reaching true understanding.

19
Q

Who should rule Plato’s ideal city, and why?

A

Philosopher-kings/queens, as they possess reason and wisdom.

20
Q

What is the role of the ‘noble lie’ inKallipolis?

A

To maintain social order and unity, such as the myth of metals to justify social hierarchy.

21
Q

What is Plato’s view of freedom in the ideal city?

A

True freedom is freedom from one’s own appetites; positive freedom is striving to reach one’s best potential.

22
Q

What are the four types of unjust cities, according to Plato?

A

Timocracy (rule by honor), oligarchy (rule by the wealthy), democracy (rule by the people), and tyranny (rule by an oppressive leader).

23
Q

Why is Plato ambivalent about democracy?

A

He admires its diversity and freedoms but criticizes its instability due to uncontrolled desires.

24
Q

How does Plato describe censorship inKallipolis?

A

Censorship is used to control art and stories, promoting only moral narratives and avoiding depictions of the unjust as happy.

25
Q

What does temperance mean in Plato’s philosophy?

A

Harmony among all parts of the city or soul, where all agree on who should rule.

26
Q

What is the role of courage in the city and the soul?

A

Courage is the virtue of auxiliaries and the spirited element, upholding convictions and supporting reason.

27
Q

How does Plato define wisdom in the city and the soul?

A

Wisdom is the virtue of rulers and the rational element, enabling good decisions and governance.

28
Q

How does Plato’s philosophy apply to modern scenarios like climate change?

A

Plato’s ideas suggest justifying actions, even through fabricated news, to achieve moral goals, raising questions about ethics in governance.

29
Q

What is the difference between positive and negative freedom in Plato’s view?

A

Positive freedom is the freedom to become one’s best self, while negative freedom is freedom from external constraints.

ahopt (13 decks)

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