Justice in the city: each part Justice in the city: each part of the city performing its of the city performing its

natural functionnatural function

Justice in the individual: each Justice in the individual: each part of the soul performing part of the soul performing

its natural functionits natural function

..

Socrates argues that the soul is Socrates argues that the soul is divided into three parts, just like the divided into three parts, just like the city (reason, spirit and appetite).city (reason, spirit and appetite).

Socrates claims that a person who is Socrates claims that a person who is just in his sense will also act just in his sense will also act “justly”—not steal, murder, etc.“justly”—not steal, murder, etc.

Is Socrates right?Is Socrates right?

Going back to the City Going back to the City

What is the role of women in the What is the role of women in the ideal city?ideal city?

What sort of sexual relations ought What sort of sexual relations ought the upper classes have and how the upper classes have and how should their children be raised?should their children be raised?

What is the true character of the What is the true character of the guardian class?guardian class?

Role of WomenRole of Women

Socrates says the principle of Socrates says the principle of specialization applies to women as specialization applies to women as well as men. Each woman will have well as men. Each woman will have the task they are by nature suited the task they are by nature suited for.for.

A person’s role in the city is A person’s role in the city is determined by their soul, not by determined by their soul, not by their sex ( cf. long haired vs. short their sex ( cf. long haired vs. short haired men)haired men)

Is Plato a proto-feminist?Is Plato a proto-feminist?

In the ideal city roles will not be In the ideal city roles will not be determined by gender.determined by gender.

But he makes clear he believes in But he makes clear he believes in fact women are, in general, inferior fact women are, in general, inferior to men.to men.

What about children?What about children?

Analogy with Glaucon’s hunting dogs.Analogy with Glaucon’s hunting dogs. Only the best of the gold and silver Only the best of the gold and silver

souled will be allowed to reproduce, by souled will be allowed to reproduce, by means of a rigged “lottery.”means of a rigged “lottery.”

This will ensure that future This will ensure that future generations will have the best generations will have the best characteristics of the preceding one.characteristics of the preceding one.

What, if anything, is wrong with What, if anything, is wrong with Socrates reasoning?Socrates reasoning?

How should the children be How should the children be raisedraised

They should be raised collectively.They should be raised collectively. No one will know who their No one will know who their

biological parents or children are.biological parents or children are.

Advantages of communal Advantages of communal child raisingchild raising

Eliminates favoritism based on blood Eliminates favoritism based on blood tiesties

Encourages unity and cohesivenessEncourages unity and cohesiveness Avoids factionalismAvoids factionalism

Some problemsSome problems

Children may need to bond with one Children may need to bond with one person to be psychologically healthyperson to be psychologically healthy

Factionalism may still exist based on Factionalism may still exist based on informal friend groupsinformal friend groups

It is extremely hard for mothers to It is extremely hard for mothers to voluntarily give up their babies at voluntarily give up their babies at birthbirth

Philosopher KingsPhilosopher Kings

The last and final difficulty to The last and final difficulty to confront Socrates: who will rule the confront Socrates: who will rule the city?city?

There will be no end of evils until There will be no end of evils until philosophers become kings or kings philosophers become kings or kings learn to become philosopherslearn to become philosophers

But most people will laugh at the But most people will laugh at the idea that philosophers, of all people, idea that philosophers, of all people, will make the best rulers.will make the best rulers.

What is philosophy?What is philosophy?

But we need to know what But we need to know what philosophy really is to answer the philosophy really is to answer the questionquestion

Philosophy is the love of wisdomPhilosophy is the love of wisdom A philosopher is insatiable for all A philosopher is insatiable for all

kinds of learning.kinds of learning.

Glaucon: but in that case there will Glaucon: but in that case there will be some very strange philosophers– be some very strange philosophers– the lovers of sights and sounds. the lovers of sights and sounds. Festival goers.Festival goers.

Socrates: these are not philosophers Socrates: these are not philosophers but they are like philosophers.but they are like philosophers.

belief and Knowledgebelief and Knowledge

Belief and knowledge are powers.Belief and knowledge are powers.

They are distinguished by their They are distinguished by their objects.objects.

Knowledge is about what is.Knowledge is about what is.

Belief is about what both is and is not.Belief is about what both is and is not.

What does this mean?What does this mean?

beliefbelief

Belief is about facts or information. It Belief is about facts or information. It aims at particular thingsaims at particular things

But particular things are But particular things are contradictory—they both are and are contradictory—they both are and are not.not.

An object is beautiful—here and now, An object is beautiful—here and now, from this point of viewfrom this point of view

But is also not beautiful at another But is also not beautiful at another time, or from another point of viewtime, or from another point of view

Heraclitus: You cannot step into the Heraclitus: You cannot step into the same river twice.same river twice.

Cratylus: you cannot step into the Cratylus: you cannot step into the same river ONCE.same river ONCE.

Plato agreed with heraclitus: the Plato agreed with heraclitus: the sensible world is constantly sensible world is constantly changing. Change pervades the changing. Change pervades the world of senseworld of sense

KnowledgeKnowledge

But knowledge is about what really But knowledge is about what really is. What does not change, what is is. What does not change, what is permanent.permanent.

If you understand the nature of If you understand the nature of beauty, what you understand or beauty, what you understand or grasp simply is—it will not change. grasp simply is—it will not change. Sensible things come and go, beauty Sensible things come and go, beauty itself remains the same. It just is itself remains the same. It just is what it is.what it is.

The philosopher is not a person who The philosopher is not a person who wants to accumulate lots of factswants to accumulate lots of facts

The philosopher aims to understand The philosopher aims to understand general truth.sgeneral truth.s

“ “this is a picture of a circle”—this is a this is a picture of a circle”—this is a beliefbelief

About a particular thing.About a particular thing.

Understanding the definition of a circleUnderstanding the definition of a circle—that is knowledge.—that is knowledge.

““Joe is a just person” this is a beliefJoe is a just person” this is a belief Understanding what justice is—what Understanding what justice is—what

it is in virtue of which Joe and every it is in virtue of which Joe and every other just person is just—this is other just person is just—this is knowledge.knowledge.