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¶ … Socratic dialogue allows us as readers to engage with Plato's text and the many diverse issues the philosopher raises in The Republic. Of the books contained in The Republic, the most engaging proved to be Books 5 and 7. Book 5 presents one of the earliest recorded feminist arguments, and Book 7 puts us in direct contact with one of the most famous philosophical analogies of all time: that of the cave. I was more surprised to encounter the former than the latter, but both offer rich fruit for discussion. Moreover, I completely agree with Plato's assessment of the fundamental value and function of education.
In a rare display of humor, Plato, through Socrates, points out one of the drawbacks of coeducational gymnasiums: " the most ridiculous thing of all will be the sight of women naked in the palaestra, exercising with the men, especially when they are no longer young; they certainly will not be a vision of beauty, any more than the enthusiastic old men who in spite of wrinkles and ugliness continue to frequent the gymnasia." Had the author not also criticized the appearance of the wrinkled old men, then the first part of that passage might be taken as a completely insulting double standard but Plato does in fact make fun of old bodies, both male and female. I found this to be as funny as it was refreshing. I appreciate that Socrates argues logically against sex-segregation and challenges his opponents to validate their sexist arguments....
I only believe it is a shame that Plato's views on gender equity failed to become a part of European cultural norms until very recently, and that women continue to struggle for basic human rights around the world.
Plato's cave analogy might, however, account for the biased views that cause sexism, racism, and other prejudicial fallacies. Most people have a sheep-like mind, following what they hear on the news or the latest trends. Without thinking for themselves or thinking critically, the vast numbers of people remain ignorant or in the proverbial cave. They mistake the shadows on the wall for reality. This is even more true now than it was for Plato, given the preponderance of media messages and the reduction of the truth to something that can be bought, sold, and manipulated. Only a few people are courageous enough, and willing to work hard enough, to leave the comfort and safety of the cave for the real world beyond it. Doing so isolates the "enlightened" person from the rest of humanity, but in so doing, the person can gain wisdom and respect. Interestingly, Plato does not even seem to be making a moral judgment for or against living in the cave, for he seems to recognize that some people are simply not interested in leaving.
Finally, one of the most interesting parts of The Republic is when Plato discusses education in Book 3. Education for Plato meant so much more than memorizing facts or passing standardized tests. There…
The text deals at length and often with a great variety of matters which bear on the human condition, but there are matters which would certainly have no place in a modern treatise on politics" Therefore, it is rather hard to determine the extent to which Plato used this means of communication, the dialogues, to point out to the actual necessities of the society he lived in and the aspects
After all, Socrates tells Glaucon that if the prisoner who sees the sunlight were to venture back in the cave and break the news that the shadows on the wall were illusions, he would be killed. However, it is possible to enjoy the pleasures of the body without causing harm to the self or to others. The key is to acknowledge truth and wisdom. Morgareidge suggests that collectivism can help
This is very true because even in modern times students who desire to attain good grades will endeavor for that, but a student who has no desire will only go to school to pass time. This analogy can also be vice versa, a petty man can become a gentleman and a gentleman can also become a petty man Austin, Page 106. The main reason they do not change places is
From this we need to understand that the existence of entities, beings which superior power and knowledge is accepted. People not only accept that these being actually exist, but they obey their commands. From this one can deduce that morality is connected with power. People obey the commands of the gods because the gods are what they are. The implications are that on the one side, the gods have access
reason than his critique of Plato, Popper provides much food for thought about political philosophy, and especially the political philosophies underlying American society and government. So much modern critical theory and political philosophy is rooted in Plato that it is easy to take for granted that much of what is said in The Republic and other texts needs to be scrutinized. Plato was brilliant but not sacrosanct. I appreciate
Plato and Machiavelli can be considered theorists of the ideal state, and each gives a high position to the military and military arts in achieving and maintaining order in society. However, they do have different views of the ultimate place and purpose of the military. What each has to say about the military reflects on the nature of the rest of their philosophies as expressed by Plato in The