This is a comprehensive review of everything you need to know for your Paper 2. It includes important details mentioned in The Republic and it covers every topic that can possibly show up. It includes critiques of certain aspects of Plato's argument and logical inconsistencies.
Table of Contents
DYEING OF THE WOOL ANALOGY.......................................................................................1
THE FOUR VIRTUES.............................................................................................................2
JUSTICE..............................................................................................................................2
MICRO/MACRO ANALOGY.................................................................................................3
TRIPARTITE SOUL...............................................................................................................3
WOMEN.............................................................................................................................3
MATING FESTIVALS............................................................................................................4
FAMILY..............................................................................................................................4
BODY ANALOGY.................................................................................................................4
ENEMIES AND JUSTICE.......................................................................................................5
QUALITIES OF A RULER.......................................................................................................5
REAL STATE VS IDEALISTIC STATE.......................................................................................6
SIGHT-LOVERS....................................................................................................................6
SHIP ANALOGY...................................................................................................................7
CRITICISM OF SOPHISTRY...................................................................................................7
THE GOOD & THE SUN........................................................................................................7
THE CAVE...........................................................................................................................7
MYTH OF THE METALS.......................................................................................................8
THE GOOD..........................................................................................................................8
METAPHYSICS....................................................................................................................9
THE DIVIDED LINE..............................................................................................................9
THE TYRANT.....................................................................................................................10
TYPES OF SOCIETIES..........................................................................................................10
DYEING OF THE WOOL ANALOGY
Selection and education of guardians likened to dyeing of wool
1
, Those who dye wool aim to make sure color completely absorbed and cannot be
washed out
Ideal is to find white wool and prepare it so that it takes and holds color (Guardians)
Via musical and gymnastic training
“Absorb” lawful belief
Effective detergents such as pleasure, pain, fear, appetite don’t wash it out
Guardians must be of good character so laws make clear and lasting imprint
Just state produces just people
Just state provides effective education so state runs smoothly in union of three
classes
Additionally, Plato places a great deal of belief in the role of nature and nurture;
suppose we are not born with predispositions, rather a tabula rasa, and classes only
product of their environment
THE FOUR VIRTUES
Laborers: appetite -> temperance
Auxiliary: spirit -> courage
Guardians: reason -> wisdom
Harmony between groups: justice
Temperance: must resign themselves to staying in their place, performing their
duties (applies to all classes, leads to harmony of groups, appetitive and spirited part
must be in harmony with the rational part, leads to prosperity of city)
Wisdom: knowledge for what is best for all parts as well as the whole; philosopher-
king only; love of learning
Courage; auxiliary/warriors; to know what to fear; leads to honor and victory
JUSTICE
Justice is “the having or doing of one’s own and what belongs to oneself”
I.e. a carpenter must perform carpentry
For instance, a thief is unjust because he wants what is not his own
A murderer acts unjustly because he has deprived his victim of what rightfully
belongs to him
Macro/Micro analogy; the state is the soul writ large
Appetite, Spirit, Reason -> Workers, Auxiliary, Philosophers
Four cardinal virtues: Wisdom, courage, temperance, justice
Justice: the power of each part doing its own, not overthrowing rational part, leads
to pleasure and fulfillment
“No citizen should have what belongs to another or deprive of what is his own”
Injustice is meddling of the three classes with each other’s’ jobs
Since justice comes from within the agent exercising his will, only need minimum
laws (justice comes from within)
All laws are to ensure education of youth
PURPLE EYES ANALOGY: If the most beautiful color is purple, we cannot paint entire
statues of people purple, as it is not representative
Not everything must be beautiful, they should be functional and appropriate
2
, Plato’s explanation for why not everyone may be a guardian
Individuals totally identified with community
How can the individual be protected from the tyranny of the community?
What about the sanctity of human life? The thoughts that the individual possesses?
MICRO/MACRO ANALOGY
Parallel between just state and just individual
The state is the soul writ large
Justice in the state is justice in individual
Psychological conflict points to divided soul
Each part of soul must not interfere with the others if Just
Possible conflicts between the rational, “spirited,” and appetitive parts of the soul
Corresponds to guardians, auxiliaries, producing classes
City's ontological status regards a construction of the soul, not of an actual
metropolis
Man’s purpose would be pre-assigned; one job that suits person, homogeneity
What if workers desire to understand what upper class understands?
Would workers accept all guardians’ decisions?
What if the individual is talented at more than one thing? Is it possible to learn to be
good in another field?
Is it true that “the real concern with justice is not with external actions but with
oneself?”
Even a person strongly ruled by reason may commit a crime
Not everyone would have a harmonious self
TRIPARTITE SOUL
Reason, spirit, appetite
Most ruled by appetite -> workers
Some ruled by spirit -> auxiliaries
Few ruled by reason -> guardians
Reason: faculty for logical reasoning, deliberate action, foresight
Appetite: instinctive desire, base emotions, lust, anger
i.e. Thirst is an unqualified desire to drink
Unqualified Desire: unthinking impulse
Unthinking aspect is what qualifies it as appetitive
Key attribute of appetite is impulsivity
Guardians/Philosophers have desires, how can we be sure they won’t be corrupted?
Would the philosopher actually be wise? Someone not wise but virtuous would be a
better ruler
WOMEN
Sex/gender not a basis for deciding where social duties lie because it does not
determine the qualities and natural abilities of a person
Women may be worthy of being guardians or philosopher-rulers
3
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller seferis. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $15.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
