Plato One of the Most

Plato

One of the most influential minds in western philosophy describing this search for meaning was Plato. Plato lived from 422-347 B.C, and was born into an aristocratic family in the city of Athens where he became a student of Socrates, and eventually a teacher of Aristotle. As a student of Socrates, Plato followed the structure of philosophical agreement to ensure a just society - no laws are to be broken despite their relevance. The ability for an agreed upon purpose to structure society, law, is important to both the general populace and to philosophers. This theme of law, self-actualization, and justification of responses, resources, and human thought would run through all of Plato's works. Plato's "Theory of Forms" or "Theory of Ideas" assets that non-material ideas are the basis for truth and fundamental reality, not the material and constantly evolving world we perceive on a daily basis. For Plato, these Forms were essential in formulating his views on the universe and human interaction within that universe. For example, Plato would not deny that we might be looking at a tree, but it is the consideration of that tree -- its color, texture, shape, smell, weight, position, etc. that, once we remove from the tree, is an independent variable from the physical nature of that object -- the tree. As one moves up from images, to material objects, into forms, one eventually reaches a hierarchy, or what Plato termed "Form of Good," the absolute truth of systems.

To Plato, justice meant carrying out one's appropriate duty to their position/station in life -- justice is done for the good of society, the good of the people and is not universal. For example, if one is in a position that requires something immoral (like lying), then it is just if one lies -- for the greater good. Most ideas of justice seem to revolve more around a Judeo-Christian concept of right/wrong that are absolutes -- black and white. There is no room for because of, or circumstances. For instance, "Thou shall not kill." -- except in war of course, or in the line of law enforcement duty (debatable). But, if someone we know is brain dead or suffering, we cannot help them end their pain because that is killing -- but we would give that respect to an animal, just not a human. Therein lies some of the hypocrisy of the idea of universal justice. "Justice is really the good of another, what is advantageous for the stronger, and harmful to those served. Injustice is the opposite" (21).

Part 2- By the end of Book II, Socrates has ended most of his arguments regarding justice, and now focuses on human society, the role of the individual, and his own views on the principles of specialization. To paraphrase Marx several centuries later, this can most easily be summed up as "from each according to his ability to each according to his needs," or, for Plato, "if each person does one thing for which he is naturally suited, and does it at the opportune moment" (48). Here, Plato is acknowledging that not every individual is equal, nor has the same abilities as everyone else. This, in the long-term, will bring about the best society possible, because each person is really actualizing -- called the "healthy city." To ensure that this happens, education must be healthy and must ensures that the right education be given to the right person. He focuses on the guardians of the city, and then turns to who should rule -- deciding that personal freedom is not really valued, but the ruler should uphold the good of the state. Social classes are quite rigid, and "natural" in that this is how a person's fate is decided so they may be the best at whatever it is helps society prosper.