Summarizing Book 1 & 2 of Platos Republic

1. Movie (Crucible of Civilization: Greece).

a) Athens went from an aristocratic society to a democracy.

Tyrant (king) Pisistratus à Hippias (bad tyrant) à Cleisthenes à spartans à Cleisthenes was recalled to rebuild a govt à Democracy à Pericles.

b) Became an empire by defeating the Persians in two battles (Battle of Marathon / Salamis)

c) Pericles created a democratic society by investing in rebuilding Athens.

d) The new Athenian city/state needed a new kind of democratic education, whereas previously it was merely the Heroic Epics of Homer (Iliad and Odyssey) sung by bards (story tellers) and learned by aristocratic young men.

e) Homeric heroes used force and any means necessary for power. This becomes impossible in a democracy.

2. PLATO’S Republic. Plato wrote dialogues in which his master Socrates was the main speaker.

3. “Republic” is set in the port of Athens called Piraeus. Socrates, and Plato’s brothers (Adeimantus and Glaucon), Polemarchus, Cephalus, the sophist (pay for wisdom) Thrasymachus.

4. The first issue in the Republic is about force versus persuasion. (Soc. Pol.)

5. Soc-Cephalus about Desire and Pleasures. [Oedipus story about desire needing limits]

6. Cephalus defines justice as paying back debts and telling truth (First definition of justice 1/3)

7. Polemarchus (Second defn.): Justice is helping friends and harming enemies. (International law)

8. Thraymachus (Third defn.): Justice is whatever is in the interest of the strong (aka or might is right).

9. Book 2: Glaucon is not happy with the discussion because a positive definition of justice was not given.

10. He challenges Soc to show what justice is by itself (i.e. without the rewards punishments attached to justice and injustice). Justice by itself is in the soul.

11. As an example of Justice by itself: Glaucon gives the story of the ancestor of Gyges.: An unjust man, able to become invisible, chooses INJUSTICE to gain power without the punishments of injustice. In a similar way Glaucon says a Just man should be punished even if innocent…will he still be just?

12. City-Soul Analogy: Soc. The soul is extremely subtle and hard to see. So let us look at the city…where things are larger. What is justice in the city?

13. Socrates builds up a city in speech. It is a city based on needs not desires. It is small, it is frugal, it is just.

14. Glaucon interjects: A city should have luxuries such as good food, condiments, tables, beds etc.

15. Socrates says such a city would be a FEVERED city. It would be MUCH larger, it would require more land, and therefore a standing army.

16. Now, Soc looks for Justice, but in the education of the Guardians (standing army).

17. EDUCATION of Guardians: early education is in MUSIC. Stories.

18. Stories that picture death as a bad thing, stories that blame gods or heroes, stories about fear should be censored. Only stories that say “slavery is the worst” and bravery is the best should be told. Gods, elders, heroes should be honored in these stories.

19. Physical education or Gymnastics. (Gymos = naked).

20. Socrates proposes something RADICAL: Women should be allowed to exercise with men, and they should serve in the army. Because everyone is equal. This shocks Glaucon and Adeimantus.

21. A few selected guardians are chosen to GUARDIANS in the full sense of the word. Others will be auxiliaries.

22. Guardians should not have money, property, they should housed and clothed by the city, and they should not have private families. They should have husbands and wives in common, and the city should raise their children.

23. Among the guardians a single individual who is strong, intellectually bright, has great self control, has no desires, and cares ONLY for the good of the people: such a one should become the Ruler. The purpose of education at this point is to cultivate, test, vet, and observe and train guardians until such a ruler is created.

24. Socrates says: REMEMBER? City-state analogy? Well. Justice in the city is a well-ordered city. Justice in the soul is also a well governed soul, where Intellect guides passion which guides appetites.

25. The aim of education is thus TWO FOLD: to create just individuals and to build a just city.