The delineation of socrates in the republic is not wholly consistent. Platos republic book v socrates tries to avoid being drowned by three waves of responses to his controversial claims about. Another of socrates figures, the allegory of the cave, awaits the philosophic pilgrim who has come this. Plato also assigns a man to each of these regimes to illustrate what they stand for. This metaphor is meant to illustrate the effects of education on the human soul. The republic is a socratic dialogue by plato, written in approximately 380 bc. They are timocracy rule for the sake of honor, oligarchy rule of. From plato on democracy, part ii, and how democracy leads to tyranny republic bk viii, plato says how the demos werent smart enough to make correct decisions, and that democracy was one of the worst ways of government. In book ix, socrates continues the discussion from book viii by completing the analysis of the particular character of the tyrant.
Class 04 september 10, 2018 plato, republic, book viii socrates is still arguing that the just life is the happiest life rejecting the view that justice is only valuable for the consequences of preventing people from harming each other. You must contrive for your future rulers another and a better life than that of a ruler, and then you may have a wellordered state. Aug 17, 2009 book viii starts with a useful summary of the republic socrates has envisioned. And musaeus and his son 39 have 40 a more excellent song 41 than these of the blessings that the gods bestow on the righteous. Chapter summary for platos the republic, book 8 summary. Theyve been there since childhood, with their necks and legs chained, so that they can only see in front of them. Platos republic book viii class 04 plato republic book. Socrates creates a suitable discord in their state by projecting a future mistake in population control. Allegory of the cave the republic, book vii, 514a521d socrates and now, i said, let me show in a figure how far our nature is enlightened or unenlightened. Ready to call it a night, theyre intercepted by a whole gang of their acquaintances, who eventually convince them to come hang out at polemarchus s house and have a nice, long chat.
Book viii socrates glaucon and so, glaucon, we have arrived at the conclusion that in the perfect state wives and children are to be in common. Fragments of a different version of plato s republic were discovered in 1945, part of the nag hammadi library, written ca. Platos republic book viii the goal of books viii and ix is to answer the second main question raised at the beginning of the republic. In book viii of platos republic, socrates finally finishes the detour and returns to his initial discussion of the four forms of badness proposed in the beginning of book v. Book viii provides the necessary setup for this argument, and book ix utilizes this setup to make the case for the. A model for the ideal state includes discussion of the nature and application of justice, the role of the philosopher in society, the goals of education, and the effects of art upon character. The internet classics archive the republic by plato.
Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. Every dialogue, and especially this one, is an organized whole, and none of the parts will be fully understood if the nature of the whole is overlooked. In book vii socrates continues work toward a more complete representation of the good. Book viii of platos republic example topics and free essays. Plato allegory of the cave the republic, book vii, 514a. The republic study guide contains a biography of plato, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a.
Since the midnineteenth century, the republic has been platos most famous and widely read dialogue. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Plato on democracy, part ii, and how democracy leads to tyranny republic bk viii come then, tell me, dear friend, how tyranny arises. Platos republic book viii my phd comprehensive exam experiment authors. The soul of the tyrant 20 feb 2018 16 feb 2020 great books guy in book ix, socrates continues the discussion from book viii by completing the analysis of the particular character of the tyrant. Platos republic some of the main arguments and issues. Several oxyrhynchus papyri fragments were found to contain parts of the republic, and from other works such as phaedo, or the dialogue gorgias, written around 200300 ce. Degeneration and democracy in book viii of platos republic. University of berlin and the author of a new commentary on books 8. Book viii of the republic contains an account of the forms of government other than the that found in the ideal state, and they are presented along with the personal character types that are related to them as stages of increasing corruption. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the republic amazonclassics edition. In book 8 socrates discusses these forms, or political constitutions, in turn. Online shopping from a great selection at books store.
At the beginning of book 8 socrates summarizes the main features of the perfect state, and glaucon recalls socrates had previously promised the company to discuss the four principal forms of defective, or lessthanperfect, states. Socrates glaucon and now, i said, let me show in a figure how far our nature is enlightened or unenlightened. Glaucon remembers that socrates was about to describe the four types of unjust regime along with. Glaucon remembers that socrates was about to describe the four types of unjust regime along with their corresponding unjust individuals 543c544b. Socrates argues that there are four main types of unjust states. Another of socrates figures, the allegory of the cave, awaits the philosophic pilgrim who has come this far like the gaping mouth of the cave itself. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in the republic, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Review of the aristocracy 543socrates picks up the argument that was interrupted in book v. And so we have arrived at the conclusion, that in the perfect state wives and children are to be in common. Oct 12, 2015 summary and analysis of book 7 of platos republic.
Socrates suggests there that, in pursuit of more and more wealth, oligarchic citizens within the democracy will exploit the lower economic classes, even to the point of undermining their own oligarchic economic interests. For they conduct them to the house of hades in their tale and arrange a symposium of the saints, 42 where, reclined on couches crowned with wreaths, 363d they entertain the time henceforth with wine, as if the fairest meed of virtue were an everlasting drunk. We are agreed then, glaucon, that the state which is to achieve the height of good government must have community of wives and. The eighth book of the republic abounds in pictures of life and fanciful allusions. The republic book viii summary and analysis gradesaver.
Thus, the author was justified in his belief that this form of democracy was bound to fail plato book viii. The allegory of the cave can be found in book vii of platos bestknown work, the republic, a lengthy dialogue on the nature of justice. Book viii provides the necessary setup for this argument, and book ix utilizes this setup to make the case for the profitability of justice. The problem of controlling nature, duly acknowledged by plato in the passage, is, in fact, a very real and insurmountable obstacle the state faces in practice. Socrates glaucon and so, glaucon, we have arrived at the conclusion that in the perfect state wives and children are to be in common. In book v, socrates was about to develop his theories of injustice by arguing examples of injustice, when polemarchus and adeimantus asked him to continue his conversation about the guardians. Pdf downloads of all 1288 litcharts literature guides. Summary in book v, socrates was about to develop his theories of injustice by. Find a summary of this and each chapter of the republic. In arts and gymnastic 376d408e book iii 376d the guardians need to be educated very carefully to be able to distinguish what is to be feared protect citizens, laws, and customs well. It is one of the most influential works of philosophy and political theory, and arguably plato s best known work. Platos republic, book viii book viii starts with a useful summary of the republic socrates has envisioned. How can the wealthiest people make democracies worse.
These are timocracy, oligarchy, democracy, and tyranny. The republic amazonclassics edition kindle edition by. Socrates and glaucon decide to return to the question of the best and happiest man, in conjunction with each of the remaining regimes. We may remark, 1, the description of the two nations in one, which become more and more divided in the greek republics, as in feudal times, and perhaps also in our own.
The timocratic state or government of honor arises from the ideal when there is discord. Ready to call it a night, theyre intercepted by a whole gang of their acquaintances, who eventually convince them to come hang out at polemarchuss house and have a nice, long chat. It is one of the most influential works of philosophy and political theory, and arguably platos best known work. In book viii of plato s republic socrates describes four models of the rule. Platos republic, book vii book vii opens with the famous allegory of the cave, which, it is sometimes forgotten, is intended to illustrate the. Plato allegory of the cave the republic, book vii, 514a521d. Oct 14, 2015 summary and analysis of book 8 of plato s republic. It is known as a socratic dialogue and is perhaps one of platos best known works. In the first book we have more of the real socrates, such as he is depicted in the memorabilia of xenophon, in the earliest dialogues of plato, and in the apology.
Perhaps a first clue towards discovering this structure is in the obvious point that. Now that the true state and true human have been clearly illustrated, the philosophers can revive the thread introduced earlier in the dialogue. In book viii of platos republic, socrates moves from the discussion of the ideal state of aristocracy to a discussion of the four unjust types of. I think the structure of the republic is vitally important to understanding its meaning. Aug 12, 2009 platos republic, book vii book vii opens with the famous allegory of the cave, which, it is sometimes forgotten, is intended to illustrate the effect of education or the lack of it on our nature. The discourse begins with socrates heralding their need to backtrack a little. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Our story begins as socrates and his friend glaucon head home from a festival. It is known as a socratic dialogue and is perhaps one of plato s best known works.
The republics most famous allegory, designed to encapsulate platos theory of forms, the allegory of the cave is evidence for not only philosophic genius, but imaginative genius as well. Imagine, socrates says, humans living in a cave, whose entrance is above them and open to the light. Fragments of a different version of platos republic were discovered in 1945, part of the nag hammadi library, written ca. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. In book viii, socrates suggests that wealth will not help a pilot to navigate his ship, as his concerns will be directed centrally toward increasing his wealth by whatever means, rather than seeking out wisdom or honor. Check out our revolutionary side byside summary and analysis. Carlos plato summary plato was a man from ancient greece, who was against athenian democracy. Recall in book viii, that socrates outlined the formation of each regime in descending order. The republic book vii summary and analysis gradesaver. The paper book viii of plato s republic is a great example of a book report on philosophy. The allegory of the cave can be found in book vii of plato s bestknown work, the republic, a lengthy dialogue on the nature of justice.
The republic book viii great books of the western world. Plato brought out these models of truth, knowledge, and the natural world of truth along his analogy of the divided line. The republic summary our story begins as socrates and his friend glaucon head home from a festival. It is generally accepted that the republic belongs to the dialogues of platos middle period. A summary interpretation of the allegorys meaning cannot be better or more concisely stated than in socrates addition. In book vii, socrates presents the most beautiful and famous metaphor in western philosophy. In book two, socrates, thrasymachus and adeimantus decide to focus on a. Often regarded as a utopian blueprint, the republic is dedicated toward a discussion of the education required of a philosopherking. Now in book viii socrates returns to his examples of unjust societies and unjust men. Apr 02, 2011 in book viii of platos republic, socrates finally finishes the detour and returns to his initial discussion of the four forms of badness proposed in the beginning of book v.
We are now presented with the entire program of study for the heads of state in the ideal state, and we are reminded again that these young candidates must be of high moral character and industry. Plato investigates the question in book viii of the republic. As in most other platonic dialogues the main character is socrates. Having established that the best regime consists of the philosopher king as well as the guardians and auxiliaries well trained in music and gymnastics and. Degeneration and democracy in book viii of platos republic thesis directed by professor robert metcalf abstract platos republic is a confusing and confused text, nonetheless when pulled apart the most perplexing portion is book viii. The republic by plato, part of the internet classics archive. Platos point is that, once a given state or a given man begins to decline.
Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the republic and what it means. Understanding the classical forms of government as presented by plato. But this mistake is treated satirically, not seriously. They are aristocracy, timocracy, oligarchy, democracy, and tyranny. Sep 19, 2016 plato was a man from ancient greece, who was against athenian democracy.
But the republic583 d like the gorgias493 e494 c knows the more technical distinction of the philebus42 c ff. Also, a discussion of aristocracy, timocracy, oligarchy, democracy, and tyranny. Indeed, the republic stands today as his fearless rebuke of his own times. The republic amazonclassics edition kindle edition by plato. Neither in the republic, nor in any other dialogue of plato, is a single character repeated. Plato discusses five regimes five forms of government in his republic, book viii. Having established that the best regime consists of the philosopher king as well as the guardians and auxiliaries well trained in music and gymnastics and sharing.