POLI FINAL Flashcards
Natures of men and women
- A women and a man can have the same nature, then, relevant to guarding the city- except to the extent that she is weaker and he is stronger
- Women must be selected to live and guard with men
Wives and children in common
- Socrates argues that in this ideal society, there should be no private ownership of wives and children among the ruling class of guardians. Instead, he suggests that wives and children should be shared communally, with no one claiming exclusive ownership. This idea is intended to eliminate jealousy, competition, and the potential for corruption within the ruling class. The reasoning behind this proposal is rooted in Plato’s vision of justice and harmony within the city-state. By removing the institution of the family and private property within the guardian class, Plato believes that individuals will be more devoted to the common good of the society rather than pursuing their own self-interest or familial concerns.
- All these women should be shared amond all the men, that no individual woman and man should live together, adn that the children,too, should be shared, with no parent knowing its own offspring, and no child its parent.
- The sharing of women and children is not the greatest good, if indeed it is viables.
Philosopher rulers
- Until philosophers rule as kings in their cities, or those who are nowadays called kings and leading men become genuine and adequate philosophers so that political power and philosophy become thoroughly blended together, while numerous natures that now pursue either one exclusively are compelled not to do so, cities will have no rest from evils…
- philosopher rulers in Plato’s philosophy represent the ideal of enlightened leadership, guided by wisdom, justice, and virtue. Through their governance, philosopher rulers aim to create a just and harmonious society, where individuals can flourish and fulfill their potential in accordance with the principles of truth, goodness, and beauty.
Knowledge vs. opinion
By distinguishing between knowledge and opinion, Plato underscores the value of seeking truth and understanding beyond the realm of appearances, perceptions, and subjective beliefs.
- “knowledge deals with what is, ignorance
must deal with what is not” (477b)
– Belief is in between
– “belief neither believes what is nor what is not”
(478c)
Form of the Good
The greatest thing to learn about, and that it is by their relation to it that just things and the others become useful and beneficial
-the Form of the Good is the highest and most fundamental of all the Forms. It represents the ultimate source of reality, existence, and intelligibility, illuminating the world of Forms and providing the basis for understanding and knowledge.
- the source of knowledge and truth, illuminating the minds of individuals and enabling them to discern the true nature of reality.
- the foundation of moral understanding and ethical virtue
- sun, which illuminates the visible world and enables us to perceive objects and forms
Sun
The sun not only gives visible things the power to be seen but also provides for their coming-to-be, growth, and nourishment
You should also say that not only do the objects of knowledge owe their being known to the good, but their existence and being are also dut to it; although the good is not being, but something yet beyond being, superior to it rank and power.
The sun is like the form of the good but it really isn’t the form of the good
Cave:
The power to learn is present in everyone’s soul, and the instrument with which each of us learns: just as an eye cannot be turned around from darkness to light except by turning the whole body, so this instrument must be turned around from what-comes-to-be together with the whole soul, until it is able to bear to look at what is, and at the brightest thing that is – the one we call the good
Education of Philosopher rulers
a central aspect of his ideal society. Plato proposes that those who are to govern the state should undergo rigorous education and training in philosophy from a young age. The education of philosopher rulers is designed to cultivate their intellectual and moral virtues, preparing them for leadership roles in the ideal city-state.
Early Training: Plato emphasizes the importance of early education and training in shaping the character and intellect of future rulers. He suggests that children selected for leadership roles should receive specialized instruction from the age of childhood, focusing on the development of intellectual and moral virtues.
Study of Philosophy: The core of the education of philosopher rulers is the study of philosophy, particularly metaphysics, ethics, and epistemology. Plato argues that philosophers possess wisdom and insight into the true forms of justice, truth, and the good, making them best suited to govern the state with justice and wisdom.
Dialectic and Debate: Philosopher rulers are trained in the art of dialectic, which involves the rigorous examination and questioning of ideas through logical reasoning and debate. Through dialectic, philosophers learn to discern truth from falsehood and to critically evaluate arguments and perspectives.
Physical Training: In addition to intellectual pursuits, philosopher rulers also undergo physical training to develop strength, agility, and discipline. Plato believes that a balance of physical and intellectual training is essential for the holistic development of future leaders.
Experiential Learning: Philosopher rulers are exposed to real-world experiences and challenges, allowing them to apply their philosophical knowledge and principles to practical situations. Plato advocates for a well-rounded education that combines theoretical learning with practical application.
Guardianship of the Laws: Throughout their education, philosopher rulers are instilled with a sense of duty and responsibility toward the laws and principles of the state. Plato emphasizes that true guardianship involves upholding justice, promoting the common good, and ensuring the well-being of all citizens.
Five constitutions/soul types
Kallopolis:
Loves wisdom or knowledge
Timocracy:
Honor lovers
Oligarchy:
Rule by the rich
Love money
Democracy:
Rule by the people- the many
Love freedom
Tyranny
Myth of Er
Myth of Er: story to tells us about the consequences of justice and injustice
Er is a soldier who dies in battle but he isn’t really dead and instead he gets to go to the afterworld and observe with the idea that he will return and tell everyone what he saw
Rewarded or punished
Good people go to be rewarded for 1000 years
Bad people go to be punished for 1000 years
Story about : what about your next life?
If you are really really bad you may never get another chance
All the information about each life is made available to you
The Myth of Er emphasizes the importance of living a virtuous and just life. The rewards and punishments experienced by the souls in the afterlife are based on their moral conduct and adherence to principles of justice, wisdom, and moderation. Those who cultivate virtue are ultimately rewarded with a favorable afterlife and the opportunity for continued moral progress.
Class struggle
Oppressor and oppressed, situated in constant opposition to one another, carried on an uninterrupted, now hidden, now open, conflict, a fight that each time ended in a revolutionary transformation of the entire society or in the common ruin of the contending class
A manifold gradation of social ranks
The history of the world is the history of class struggle
Marx saw class struggle as an inherent feature of capitalist societies, driven by the contradictions and conflicts within the capitalist mode of production. He described this process as dialectical, meaning it involves the clash of opposing forces (in this case, the bourgeoisie and the proletariat) leading to social change.
Bourgeoisie
people at the top, the owners, owns the means of production– the wealthy
“The leaders of whole industrial armies
The product of a long course of development, of a series of revolutions in the modes of production and of exchange
Aquired for itself exclusive political sway
Cannot exist without constantly revolutionizing the instruments of production, thereby the relations of productions, and hence social relations in their entirety
Proletariat
The modern working class developed- a class of laborers, who live only so long as they find work, and who find work only so long as their labor increases capital.
Becomes a mere appendage of the machine
Organized like soldiers
Without property
Abolition of private property:
Set out to abolish bourgeois property specifically to avoid anyone having anyway to gain capital.
Modern bourgeois private property is the final and most complete expression of the production and appropriation of products based on class antagonisms, on the exploitation of some by others
Property derives from the antagonism of capital and wage-labor
Capital is converted into common property, into the property of all members of society, personal property is not transformed into social property
Principles of Communism
- Historical Materialism: Communism is grounded in the theory of historical materialism, which asserts that the development of human societies is driven by the material conditions of production and class struggle. Marx and Engels argue that the history of all hitherto existing societies is the history of class struggles, and that the current capitalist system will inevitably give way to socialism and communism.
- Abolition of Private Property: Communism advocates for the abolition of private property and the establishment of collective ownership of the means of production. Marx and Engels argue that private property leads to exploitation and alienation, and that socialism will transition society towards communal ownership and control of resources.
Classless Society: Communism envisions the creation of a classless society, where the distinction between the bourgeoisie (capitalist class) and the proletariat (working class) is abolished. In a communist society, there is no exploitation or oppression, and all individuals have equal access to resources and opportunities. - End of Alienation: Communism seeks to overcome the alienation inherent in capitalist societies, where workers are estranged from the products of their labor and from their own humanity. Marx and Engels envision a society where individuals are liberated from alienating work conditions and have the freedom to fulfill their creative and productive potentials.
- Transition from Socialism to Communism: Communism is presented as the ultimate stage of human history, following the transition from capitalism to socialism. In the socialist stage, the state plays a role in organizing the economy and redistributing resources, but eventually withers away as the foundations for communism are established
