Man in Society&

Formation of Government

Questions We’ll Probably Discuss

• Is society made for man or is man made for society?• Is the state a divine creation which man must not

question, or is it a result of a “social contract” among men and subject to change when it no longer serves men?

• How do rulers get their authority?• Is revolution justifiable? • Is totalitarianism or democracy correct?• What is justice?• What is the "good life"?

Basics of Political Philosophy

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm8asJxdcds

• She’s going to break down philosophy into categories: take note of those.

• Why is she excited about political philosophy?• What are the two questions she says are at

the heart of political philosophy?

Your Political Philosophy

•Who gets what?•Who says so?

PLATO

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q34MHpBu0Oo

Plato’s Life

• Marked by political upheaval• Democracy 30 Oligarchs (tyrants)

democracy• Under the new democracy: Socrates is found

guilty and executed

Plato’s Thoughts on Democracy

• “Mankind’s troubles will never cease until either true and genuine philosophers achieve political power or, by some dispensation of providence, rulers of states become genuine philosophers.”

Republic

• A dialogue about justice• Socrates describes Kallipolis (“Beautiful City”)

to show justice in the STATE and then moves on to discuss justice in the INDIVIDUAL

Kallipolis

• To meet basic human needs, humans have to cooperate

• Meeting needs creates more complex needs which requires more complex structures to meet those needs

• Fully realized – 3 groups in society:– Guardians– Auxiliaries– Producers

Justice in Kallipolis

• When everyone functions together in such a way to secure the good for the whole community

• Functioning (for Producers and Auxiliaries) = within the limits set by the Guardians

• Everyone does the job for which they are best suited and doesn’t interfere in the jobs of others

Wait a minute…

• Sounds like totalitarianism?• Plato thinks:– only a few can be rulers– Ignorant should follow the leadership of the wise– Guardians can use myth, deception to govern the

commonwealth• Caveat: the Guardians are virtuous, wise men

whose choices are guided by the needs of the greater good

In the end

• Later in life: Plato becomes political advisor to Dionysius II– Real life experiment to mold a philosopher ruler– Ends in failure and disillusionment for Plato

• Take-away: 2nd best form of government (since ideal statesman doesn’t exist) is state run by men who are governed by wise LAWS