What did you think of Plato's Republic?

Question

you are right. i have not yet read it. i just bought it on ebay, and was wondering if anyone had any pertinant thoughts that i could keep in mind while reading it myself.
I am not reading it for school. I am reading it for my own personal enjoyment and pleasure.

Answer 1

In short, Plato was an elitists. He believed only a very few could govern. Plato was right that it is a skill, but I do not think the views of a small minority should prevail over all the masses. And his being a philosopher, is it not interesting that he thought philosophers would be the best rulers. He never solved the problem of who rules over the rulers?

I think he had a proper concern about how the masses can rule. Athens had demagogues, even as a democracy. Not only did Athens kill his great teacher Socrates, but it was the aggressor in the Peloponnesian War against Sparta. So, I think, Plato's skepticism about Athens and the masses had justification.

Mass rule can be a problem. But the checks and balances by Our Founding Fathers is a better solution than trying to trust the elite few. Furthermore, people cannot really gain the ability to rule themselves, without getting the chance to.

In summary, Plato's Republic has some good ideas about governing, but better systems of rule have been devised, such as in America.

Answer 2

I think it is was an awakening for me that people 2500 years ago had developed ideas that are still marvelously fresh today. Although we have come a long way in using technology, our culture and philosophies, perhaps, have not developed much beyond that of Plato. I keep thinking back to the "allegory of the cave" when I see what Hollywood, computers have done for us, and how our politicians behave.

Answer 3

"Res publica" isn't a precise translation of the Greek be conscious "politeia" that Plato used contained in the identify of his communicate: "politeia" is a typical term indicating the countless varieties of government that could want for use and have been utilized in a Polis or city-state.(taken from Wikipedia) Plato and Socrates have been confronted with numerous modes of government: God-King, Oligarchi, Tiranny, etc. the objective grow to be to locate as extra advantageous, if no longer the remarkable thank you to rule a state. subsequently city-state=Politeia, desire it facilitates.

Answer 4

All European democracy is standing on Slovenian Karantanija rules. But it is so bad, because they modify it. justOne