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How To Read Plato

The document provides guidance on how to approach reading Plato's Republic. It emphasizes that Plato's dialogues [1] are meant to provide insights into thinking rather than definitive answers, and may contain contradictions. [2] Readers should focus on understanding Plato's thought process rather than trying to determine a single "message". [3] Allegories like the Allegory of the Cave are meant to illustrate philosophical concepts rather than literal stories.

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Sharlize Agbayani
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67 views9 pages

How To Read Plato

The document provides guidance on how to approach reading Plato's Republic. It emphasizes that Plato's dialogues [1] are meant to provide insights into thinking rather than definitive answers, and may contain contradictions. [2] Readers should focus on understanding Plato's thought process rather than trying to determine a single "message". [3] Allegories like the Allegory of the Cave are meant to illustrate philosophical concepts rather than literal stories.

Uploaded by

Sharlize Agbayani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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HOW TO READ (AND

HOPEFULLY UNDERSTAND)
PLATO’S REPUBLIC

PSC1103
Plato is an ancient Greek
Philosopher, a student of Socrates.

INTRODUCTION: Is it better to read about Plato


HOW SHOULD WE than reading what Plato wrote?
APPROACH PLATO?

The Republic is not a book or a


novel, it is a collection of dialogues.
Dialogues have different structures

Dialogues do not necessarily provide


answers, they provide insights on how to
think
FIR ST RULE: ‘H OW TO
T H I N K , R AT H E R T H A N
W H AT TO T H INK’
Plato would often provide
contradictions

DO not try to figure out the “message”


of Plato, learn and understand how he
thinks.
ALLEGORY
OF THE CAVE

Is Plato saying that people


are really in a cave???
ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE

• Two men are in cave. The cave is dark. The only thing they see is the shadow of
a reflection caused by a fire in the cave.
• The shadows constantly change.
• Since the men only see shadows, they perceive the shadows to be reality.
• Prisoners can escape and find themselves in a world that is more “real”.
• The prisoner that has escaped could return to the cave and let others know
about the outside world, but he is blinded because he is not accustomed to
the sun.
WHAT IS OUR
INTERPRETATION HERE?
PLATO’S THE REPUBLIC

Ten “Books” that Plato suggested


Justice for Plato:
discussed the social divisions:
if everyone does
best city-state or Guardians;
their role
polis Soldiers; Workers
DANGERS OF INTERPRETATION: HOW
TO ACHIEVE THIS “JUSTICE”?

• The enlightened Guardians will selectively breed men and women to produce the “best”
of the race.
• The best of the soldiers will get to sleep with the most beautiful women and lotteries will
be rigged so that those below will not think they have a chance to be with those who
have better status in society.
• Babies will be taken from their mothers to be determined which class they belong and
trained for their roles.
• Babies with defects will be “thrown away” (in secret)
• No one will know their families. Everyone is either their brother or sister.
WHAT IS JUSTICE?

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