Verified Document

Plato, The Republic By Francis Macdonald Cornfield. Essay

Plato, the Republic by Francis MacDonald Cornfield. Answer each question fully explaining the answer. What is Socrates explanation of the nature of justice in individuals?

Socrates determines through much discussion that the nature of justice in the individual is associated with a balance of the natural state of harmony in the individual. The individual therefore determines his or her ideal of justice by being true to his or her most suitable practice. For Socrates, justice in the individual is harmony among the three principles of the soul, (reason, appetite, and spirit) achieved by rationality, or reason the wisest faculty. Justice in individuals is analogous to the justice of a society as justice is achieved only when those more capable and educated to lead are leading as an aspect of their most suitable practice, when those elements are in place in a society then the society is just and Socrates would say that the individuals within it are also just.

According to Socrates, what are the attributes of a philosopher?

According to Socrates the attributes of a...

The role of the philosopher is to educate others about the goals of seeking answers to life's questions through deep and knowledge filled introspection. The philosopher does not propose that he or she has all the answers to all things in the world but instead demands of his students the growth of their desire to seek answers through a lifetime of introspection and observation.
3. What are the two respects in which Socrates thinks the sun and the Good are similar?

Socrates deems that the sun and the Good are similar as both illuminate the knowledge and wisdom of the world. The sun through the vision of the eye shows the viewer the things that exists in their true light, while when the sun is absent and the world is illuminated only by the moon or the stars the objects are obscured by shadow and are not reflective of their viewable selves. The Good serve the same purpose in society as the Good serve to illuminate for others, who are willing to see the…

Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Plato -- Life and Works Plato Was
Words: 961 Length: 3 Document Type: Research Paper

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

Plato and Aristotle Are Arguably
Words: 2175 Length: 7 Document Type: Essay

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
Words: 1518 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

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
Words: 1348 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

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

Plato's Cave Plato Wants the
Words: 1580 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

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
Words: 1345 Length: 4 Document Type: Research Paper

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

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now