Alfred Geier says it’s not about the state of the state.
http://philosophynow.org/issues/70/Plat ... Individual
Plato’s Republic: A Utopia For The Individual
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Re: Plato’s Republic: A Utopia For The Individual
This article does not give a good review of what Plato's Republic is about, and he does not disprove the totalitarian aspect of Plato, his philosophy, and his Republic. Instead, he glosses over the entire totalitarian aspects of his work, in his agenda to promote a "utopic" society that is somehow "good" for the individual.
Here are some real quotes taken from Plato's Republic, as well as his other works. You will see that he promotes eugenics and authoritarianism against the will of the people.
Here's one quote that's published at the website.
"[415a] God in creating those who are fit to rule, poured gold into their creation, for which reason they are the most precious--but in the helpers silver, and iron and brass in the farmers and other craftsmen. And as you are all akin, though for the most part you will breed after your kinds, [415b] it may sometimes happen that a golden father would beget a silver son and that a golden offspring would come from a silver sire and that the rest would in like manner be born of one another. So that the first and chief injunction that the god lays upon the rulers is that of nothing else are they to be such careful guardians and so intently observant as of the intermixture of these metals in the souls of their offspring, and if sons are born to them with an infusion of brass or iron [415c] they shall by no means give way to pity in their treatment of them, but shall assign to each the status due to his nature."
From Plato's Republic
Here's the website that document's Plato's support of a totalitarian society.
http://www.worldfuturefund.org/wffmaste ... /plato.htm
Also, compare it with the entire actual works, here:
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/tex ... 99.04.0094
Here are some real quotes taken from Plato's Republic, as well as his other works. You will see that he promotes eugenics and authoritarianism against the will of the people.
Here's one quote that's published at the website.
"[415a] God in creating those who are fit to rule, poured gold into their creation, for which reason they are the most precious--but in the helpers silver, and iron and brass in the farmers and other craftsmen. And as you are all akin, though for the most part you will breed after your kinds, [415b] it may sometimes happen that a golden father would beget a silver son and that a golden offspring would come from a silver sire and that the rest would in like manner be born of one another. So that the first and chief injunction that the god lays upon the rulers is that of nothing else are they to be such careful guardians and so intently observant as of the intermixture of these metals in the souls of their offspring, and if sons are born to them with an infusion of brass or iron [415c] they shall by no means give way to pity in their treatment of them, but shall assign to each the status due to his nature."
From Plato's Republic
Here's the website that document's Plato's support of a totalitarian society.
http://www.worldfuturefund.org/wffmaste ... /plato.htm
Also, compare it with the entire actual works, here:
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/tex ... 99.04.0094
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Re: Plato’s Republic: A Utopia For The Individual
I cannot read the article in the OP, I have forgot my pwd, but I think I have a pretty good clue what's it all about - since I feel probably the same reading Democracy is Sick in issue 101 (the latest) :
Hey, the guy didn't make a Machiavelli, a manual on how to run a state. It's about arguing in the favor of justice, by making up an IDEAL state. Not a practical one. The ruler should be seen as the superego of a person. And that's not too bad of a road model for personal control.
Of course, there are features of that republic that are quite appealing in some ways, like having really smart people making decisions, putting every kid in kindergarten to give everyone a fair chance (then you cannot whine about your poor upbringings when your superiors drives by in their Mercedeces). And I wouldn't mind taking part in those nude gymnastics...
But practically, of course old Platon was aware that that kind of state was impossible, people being people?
Hey, the guy didn't make a Machiavelli, a manual on how to run a state. It's about arguing in the favor of justice, by making up an IDEAL state. Not a practical one. The ruler should be seen as the superego of a person. And that's not too bad of a road model for personal control.
Of course, there are features of that republic that are quite appealing in some ways, like having really smart people making decisions, putting every kid in kindergarten to give everyone a fair chance (then you cannot whine about your poor upbringings when your superiors drives by in their Mercedeces). And I wouldn't mind taking part in those nude gymnastics...
But practically, of course old Platon was aware that that kind of state was impossible, people being people?