Western ethical theory has been deeply influenced by Plato’s Republic‚ Eastern ethical theory has been deeply influenced by Confucius’s Analects. David Haberman describes the Republic as ‘one of the most influential books of all time’ (86). And Bryan Van Norden compares (with considerable fervor) the Analects to ‘the combined influence of Jesus and Socrates’ (3). On the surface‚ there are many similarities between Confucius and Plato. Both taught through means of dialogue‚ and both expressed reticence
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Unlike the idealistic ancient philosophers such as Plato‚ who discusses politics in “the context of things above politics” (Machiavelli vii)‚ the modern philosophers‚ Niccolò Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes‚ take a realistic approach in explaining political actions and outcomes. Considered to be among the first social scientists‚ they both try to delve deep into the nature of mankind and its relationship to politics. In the course of doing so‚ both authors seem to believe that virtue and morality‚
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Book X‚ Plato claims that most poetry of necessity contains evil men (in order to produce interest and pleasure)‚ and this too forms a basis for a wide-ranging condemnation of poetry. That imitation has harmful effects is a complex matter; Plato’s argument rests on several crucial assumptions concerning the effect of poetry on an audience. In Book II he claims that “a young man must not be allowed to hear that he does nothing strange when he commits the most shocking offenses” (Republic‚ II‚ p25)
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Assignment #1 February 26‚ 2014 In Plato’s The Republic‚ the author has to use rhetoric because of its controversial content. In order for Plato to create his idea of a perfect society‚ he makes the argument that censorship is essential for the benefit of the society as a whole. Though his idea opposes the fundamental beliefs of his audience‚ Plato creates a rhetorical strategy that disputes the case in which there must be censorship within the Republic. Plato also argues that monitoring what the children
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Hobbes Leviathan Chapter 13-18 Chapter 13 Of the Natural Condition of Mankind‚ as concerning their Felicity‚ and Misery Chapter 14-16 Chapter 14: Of the first and second Naturall Lawes‚ and of Contracts Chapter 15: Of other Lawes of Nature Chapter 16: Of Persons‚ Authors‚ and things Personated A law of nature is a general rule that is discovered through reason. o Natural and inherently known by all because it can be deduced by innate mental faculties (reason‚ philosophy). Horrors
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427-347 BC Updated‚ 10/3/07 The Republic is one of Plato’s longer works (more than 450 pages in length). It is written in dialogue form (as are most of Plato’s books)‚ & it addresses major issues in almost all of the branches of philosophy. The central theme in the book seems to be the nature of justice‚ a topic in political philosophy‚ but Plato also has his characters explore issues in philosophical cosmology‚ philosophical theology‚ philosophical anthropology‚ ethics
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Tharasymachus’ has been listening to the discussion and has been eagerly waiting to interupt‚ he is convinced that he alone has the answer of what justice is. He states that justice "is in the interest of the stronger party" and its a virtue only intended for the weaker members of a society. According to Thrasymachus‚ the just man leads a good life because he is fearful of the repercussions of his actions and the unjust man is not fearful of these repercussions because he is stronger and more intelligent
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Plato - Plato WHEN Socrates was sixty years old‚ Plato‚ then a youth of twenty‚ came to him as a pupil. When Plato was sixty years old‚ the seventeen-year-old Aristotle presented himself‚ joining the Teacher ’s group of "Friends‚" as the members of the Academy called themselves. Aristotle was a youth of gentle birth and breeding‚ his father occupying the position of physician to King Philip of Macedon. Possessed of a strong character‚ a penetrating intellect‚ apparent sincerity‚ but great personal
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achievement of Plato as a critic. Plato was the first philosopher-scholar who gave a formal and systematic shape to criticism. It is believed that he started his career as a poet but soon after his meeting with Socrates‚ he destroyed his poems and dramas and began to take active interest in philosophy and politics. But he was not a professed critic of literature and his critical observations are not embodied in any single work. His chief ideas are contained in the Dialogues and the Republic. Both these
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Justice In Plato ’s The Republic‚ the author seeks to define the meaning of justice. In the story‚ the main character Socrates and some other men are discussing the subject of justice in the city and how one might judge what is just. At one point in the argument‚ Thrasymachus‚ one of the debaters and a sophist‚ makes a very broad and controversial statement: "Justice is nothing other than the advantage of the stronger." This sparks a heated discussion between him and his friends‚ who ask him to
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