I am going to do something different today in my writing so that you and I can imagine sitting down with Plato and talking about Aristotle and Socrates, and about the Republic and it’s politics, so just bare with me, and imagine that we are in garden and conversing with Plato, Socrates, Polemarchus, Thrasymachus, and Glaucon. So this dialogue takes the form of Socrates and a series of interlocutors and there I sit with them, as if a fly on the wall. Carolyn is one of the interlocutors, and each one of us offers a definition of right conduct or Justice. Three main responses come to the forefront….
Polemarchus asserts the traditional definition of right conduct. “I am arguing that the right conduct be conduct for Justice. Giving each person their due, an eye for an eye. Its a form of retributive Justice based on the ethic of an “eye for an eye.”
Socrates responding says,”harming another person can never be Justice, although some might see it as expedient. I am going to talk about the concept of “arete” the idea of the individual excellence or virtue, and call it a treatment of a humane manner.”
Thrasymachus was very much a cynic as he struggled with some of these ideas, but offers a definition of “What if a stranger has a right conduct and is a stranger with good conduct. It might make the rule of the party define what is Just behaviours. It might make stronger the party definition of right behaviour as “Just,” and it is in the best interest of the parties. “Injustice” brings happiness at least to those who practice it but is it in the best interest of the party?
Socrates responds by drawing an analogy between ruler and physician. He states, “Just as the physician, qua physician seeks to benefit not himself, but for his patients to benefit so does the ruler, qua ruler seek for his subjects to benefit. Someone must possess the Scientific knowledge that is proper to his craft. We need a kind of Hippocratic oath for Politics. The ideal leader or ruler thinks of the common interest, not his personal interest. Justice is a relationship that is notable for the human concern, for humane treatment.”
Glaucon an elder brother of Plato presses Socrates to offer a more convincing refutation of Thrasymachus’s argument. “Justice arises not because of a moral imperative of eternal Truth but from expedience. Justice has in it’s origin the desire that all people will pursue for security against the stronger. Given the opportunity, all people will pursue their own self interest regardless of Law or Justice. I will site the myth of “Gyges” from Herodotus to support the social contract theory of Justice. You must support Justice as a good within itself and apart from it’s practical benefits.”
Socrates offers his philosophy of the State in reply to both Thrasymachus and Glaucon. “I dismiss such cynical views of human society. Justice consists of the right order of reasoning, spirit, and desire with reason ruling over all. People can be led through education to gain real knowledge rather than mere opinion and to live according to reason. The rule of reason requires three “waves” of revolutionary change in Athens. Qualified women must be allowed to hold Political Power. The nuclear family and privacy and private property among the ruling class or “guardians.” must be abolished to reinforce its adherence to the common interest. In this extended family, the guardian will not be tempted by Nepotism or the accumulation of Wealth. Guardians should rule with absolute Power. Reason will rule in the Polis.”
Plato offers the parable of the “Ship of the State” to describe the deficiencies of democracy and the need for meritocratic rule. He shows how the “The Ships Master representing the demos ” is physically imposing but shows him to be somewhat ignorant, shortsighted, and deaf. The master subdued by the crew represents the corrupt Politician who manipulates and dominates the demos. Plato asserts that the navigator requires no special skill, the crew member seizes control of the ship and operates in their own interest. He shows how both they and the master are guided by opinion rather than knowledge.
The Navigator representing the Philosophers understands the Science of how to sail the Ship of State forward in security and with reasoning, sailing the ship with right correctness, but he is ignored by the crew. He is not corrupted by Power, because he understands that only Knowledge of Science will ensure that the ship reaches it’s destination. The parable teacher that the ship of the state should be guided by those who possess real knowledge, not mere opinion. In short, we want a ship run by a navigator, not by the crew.
Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” illustrates the theory of cognition, a depicting intellectual development as a journey from the darkness of opinion on the limits of real knowledge. The people in the underground Cavern cannot see the light. After the Philosopher discovers the highest Truths outside the cave, he must return to the cave and assume Political leadership, even at the risk of his own life.
In just this way Socrates tried to bring the Truth to Athens. “Apprehension of the Truth brings freedom from illusion and thus from fear. One must not lust for Power but accept it as a responsibility on behalf of the common interest. Power can be wielded wisely but by only those who have reached the ultimate level of knowledge. People must enter Politics as a noble Profession, much like they undertake medicine. They alone cannot be corrupted by petty disputes over Power and only they can guide the State to Justice.”
Plato was the first Philosopher to set forth Power as the Noble Enterprise.
Carolyn states, ” You and I must never be tempted by Nepotism, and meritocracy. You must support Justice within itself as good beyond it’s practical benefits. Each person deserves to be treated as humanely as possible. Justice is reasoning along with evidence of Empirical Facts that Science has proved beyond a shadow of doubt. Qualified women must be allowed to hold Political Power. The nuclear family, privacy, and private property are among the ruling class or “guardians.” and must be to reinforce adherence to the common interest. In the extended family, the guardians will not be tempted by Nepotism or the accumulation of Wealth. Guardians should rule with absolute Power of the individual hybrid having the right to it’s own choice of elected policies. Reason will rule in the Polis.” The ruler, qua ruler seeks for his subjects to benefit. Someone must possess the Scientific knowledge that is proper to his craft. We need a kind of Hippocratic oath for Politics. Reason will rule the Polis.
Written by Carolyn d Hogarth A North American.
For the Child Reasoning is the only way, along with humane treatment.