Three Parts Of The Tripartite Soul
1. What are the three distinct parts to the tripartite soul? Explain how Socrates thinks about the three different parts of the soul. What do you think of this notion of the soul?
The “tripartite soul” is a theory created by Socrates and states that a soul or mind consists of three parts. Each of these parts relates to motion and the ability to change. Motion and the ability to change is what makes something alive according to the Greeks. The three parts can be visually represented by a triangle divided into three sections. The bottom portion of the triangle consists of the appetitive aspect. This aspect is the desire for living things to stay alive and it consists of appetites such as hunger and thirst. All living things have this aspect of …show more content…
Socrates then asks Cephalus what the greatest good was that he received from being wealthy. He responds by saying that for a decent and orderly person, “wealth can help save them from having to cheat or deceive someone against their will and from having to depart to another place in fear because we owe sacrifice to a god or money to a person.”
In other words, money allows those with old age to atone for their injustices by sacrificing to the gods, to ensure all debts paid, and keeps them from having to cheat or deceive others to gain more wealth.
Cephalus introduces the notion that justice is speaking the truth and paying whatever debts one has incurred.
4. At the opening of Bk II, Glaucon extends the discussion. He outlines the common understanding of justice. What is the common view of justice (that is, in what way do most people value …show more content…
He then explains that the perceived origin of justice is due to those who do not have the power to do injustice and avoid suffering from it, so they create laws and commands which they call just. Apparently, most people value justice “not as a good but because they are too week to do injustice without impunity.” He then says that those who do justice do so unwillingly. If a just and unjust person were given freedom to do whatever they like, then they would both end up on the same road of injustice. This, as Glaucon says, stems from a desire to outdo others and get more and more. He later explains that, in the minds of most people, the person who appears to be just but has no scruples in regards to doing injustice lives a better life than the just person. He also says, “Indeed, every man believes that injustice is far more profitable to himself than
The “tripartite soul” is a theory created by Socrates and states that a soul or mind consists of three parts. Each of these parts relates to motion and the ability to change. Motion and the ability to change is what makes something alive according to the Greeks. The three parts can be visually represented by a triangle divided into three sections. The bottom portion of the triangle consists of the appetitive aspect. This aspect is the desire for living things to stay alive and it consists of appetites such as hunger and thirst. All living things have this aspect of …show more content…
Socrates then asks Cephalus what the greatest good was that he received from being wealthy. He responds by saying that for a decent and orderly person, “wealth can help save them from having to cheat or deceive someone against their will and from having to depart to another place in fear because we owe sacrifice to a god or money to a person.”
In other words, money allows those with old age to atone for their injustices by sacrificing to the gods, to ensure all debts paid, and keeps them from having to cheat or deceive others to gain more wealth.
Cephalus introduces the notion that justice is speaking the truth and paying whatever debts one has incurred.
4. At the opening of Bk II, Glaucon extends the discussion. He outlines the common understanding of justice. What is the common view of justice (that is, in what way do most people value …show more content…
He then explains that the perceived origin of justice is due to those who do not have the power to do injustice and avoid suffering from it, so they create laws and commands which they call just. Apparently, most people value justice “not as a good but because they are too week to do injustice without impunity.” He then says that those who do justice do so unwillingly. If a just and unjust person were given freedom to do whatever they like, then they would both end up on the same road of injustice. This, as Glaucon says, stems from a desire to outdo others and get more and more. He later explains that, in the minds of most people, the person who appears to be just but has no scruples in regards to doing injustice lives a better life than the just person. He also says, “Indeed, every man believes that injustice is far more profitable to himself than