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This recurrent theme is no accident: most cultures have, as a basis for their creation mythos, a utopian view of either the pre-human world or the post-human world. Sociological, this is a functionalist approach that serves to validate what it means to be a good citizen in society and move towards all citizens being good, and therefore a utopian culture arises. The word "utopia" is derived from the combination of two Greek words, Eutopia and Outopia. Eutopia is a positive place, meaning perfect but not fictional; while Outopia means 'nothing' or 'no matter what.' It thus seems that the Ancient's idea of Utopia, particularly in Plato's Republic, is less of an Eden as we see it and more of a template of the manner in which things should be connected in order to provide the best possible society. For Plato, this...
If the city produces enough good citizens, it will be a good city, and evolve into a good state in which will continually produce citizens with all the requisite virtues necessary to thrive and continue to evolve. Certainly, this places great demands on individuals because they must strive to be better -- to be able to move away from base desires into a better place, but this is the ideal and the goal -- a group of evolved citizens living in an evolved state equals the utopia.
The best representation of this is a short animated version that can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69F7GhASOdM
Part 4 -- Views in utopia and a good citizen - the idea of a utopian society, a perfect Eden, has been a recurring theme in human literature, philosophy, religion, and commentary almost from the beginning of civilization. This recurrent theme is no accident: most cultures have, as a basis for their creation mythos, a utopian view of either the pre-human world or the post-human world. Sociological, this is a functionalist approach that serves to validate what it means to be a good citizen in society and move towards all citizens being good, and therefore a utopian culture arises. The word "utopia" is derived from the combination of two Greek words, Eutopia and Outopia. Eutopia is a positive place, meaning perfect but not fictional; while Outopia means 'nothing' or 'no matter what.' It thus seems that the Ancient's idea of Utopia, particularly in Plato's Republic, is less of an Eden as we see it and more of a template of the manner in which things should be connected in order to provide the best possible society. For Plato, this was the ultimate destiny of humans, but seen through the eyes of the time in which benevolent autocracy could be a positive thing.
It seems as if the best way to view the concept of duty and actualization in "The Republic," is to see the virtues of courage, justice, moderation and wisdom as being the skills necessary to be a good citizen. If the city produces enough good citizens, it will be a good city, and evolve into a good state in which will continually produce citizens with all the requisite virtues necessary to thrive and continue to evolve. Certainly, this places great demands on individuals because they must strive to be better -- to be able to move away from base desires into a better place, but this is the ideal and the goal -- a group of evolved citizens living in an evolved state equals the utopia.
The best representation of this is a short animated version that can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69F7GhASOdM
Plato -- Life and Works Plato was born in Athens circa 425 BC, just after the onset of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. He lost his father at an early age, but through his mother's marriage to a friend of the leading statesman and general of Athens at the time, Plato became affiliated with some of the most influential circles of a city enjoying a Golden Age. The early
Finally, Socrates comes to the idea of knowledge as true judgment accompanied by "an account," meaning evidence or reason. In this context, knowledge would mean not only believing something true, but also having a reasonable justification for that belief; in other words, this definition proposes that knowledge means knowing a true thing and knowing why that thing is true. However, even here Socrates has a problem with the definition,
Plato and Aristotle Metaphysics The idea of metaphysics is a complex idea that focuses on expanding beyond the mere realities of physics within the natural world. In a sense, this goes "beyond physics," in that the study of metaphysics is "devoted to matters that transcend the mundane concerns" expounded by those of practical scientists such as Einstein and Heisenberg (van Inwagen, Peter). So in a broad term, "metaphysics" attempts to delve deeply
Plato's Philosopher King Plato and the Philosopher-King With the Allegory of the Cave, Plato expresses the notion that the best thing a philosopher can do is lead the people and that, in turn, a leader (king) must be a philosopher. Plato emphasizes this idea by equating the unenlightened citizens of his Republic to prisoners in chains (they are, in effect, chained by their ignorance of reality and transcendental truth). The philosopher is
He will be a servant to other servants. Without humility, however, the "servant" will become vain and proud; his vision of truth will likely become distorted by hubris. He will be no good to himself or to others. He will fight with other warrior-kings but for power and influence rather than for truth, beauty and goodness. Humility, in a sense, will keep him honest and in the light (even
Plato's Apology Discuss the main points of Plato's the Apology The Apology is based upon series of speeches that were made by Socrates in 39 BC. He was standing trial for corrupting the youth of Athens by not believing in the gods of the city. This is because he would often question various ideas in order to have a greater sense of understand and enlightenment. As a result, there were several main