3 ms·

Everyone should read a platonic dialogue. Plato's Republic in particular due to its influence on western thought. Although some of the ideas may seem absurd fro

by archhn 5y ago

Everyone should read a platonic dialogue. Plato's Republic in particular due to its influence on western thought. Although some of the ideas may seem absurd from our modern point of view, it's still thought provoking and a good example of old school philosophy. Also, Plato casually outlines why our current system of government is doomed to fail...which is probably pretty important to understand.

marginalia_nu 5y ago
The Republic is arguably more of a metaphor for the well-ordered mind, an analogy for his notion of a tripartite soul, much more than an earnest attempt at constructing a schematic for a utopian society. I do agree more people should read a few early Platonic dialogues because he teaches you to question things. I think, beyond anything else, that is what he wanted to teach. A lot of people call themselves skeptics today, but they seem primarily interested in debunking ideas and attitudes other people have that they don't share, but don't see that there is a lot of things they themselves take for granted.
- archhn 5y ago
  Interesting theory. It does appear to be incredibly naive at times when taken literally. Although there are some rather matter of fact conversations about the progression of political regimes to the point of tyranny, i.e., the post-democratic degenerate phase... which reads as a prophesy to me personally in these times. Totally agree with your other statement.
  - marginalia_nu 5y ago
    Additionally, the society he's attempting to explore is a society in which justice is the single overriding principle. I think if there is anything to take away from that, it's that such a society maybe isn't so great. His critique of democracy does absolutely have a few good points. A lot of people get really mad when they see it, but I don't think that is at all constructive. If democracy is a good idea, it must stand on its own legs. We can't counter its criticism with what it promises to deliver, but only the reality of what it delivers. Denying or attempting to conceal its problems makes addressing them that much harder, and which problems are easier to fix after having festered for a long time? At the same time, I think the very Athenian democracy he criticized solved many of our problems today. Athenian officials had real skin in the game in a way ours do not. They risked ostracism (10 years of exile) if they misbehaved.
    - archhn 5y ago
      People get mad because its a concept they have faith in, have been indoctrinated to believe, and they also depend on it to keep political chaos at bay. You can't just pull the ideological rug out from under them, for they will fall--into the abyss. We aren't dealing with pure concepts here, but ideas that have life attached to them. Some ideas are preserved simply to preserve the life bound to them. I'm afraid this is all a moot point because democracy has already disappeared in the U.S.. We're a democracy in name only. Hopefully we don't go the way of the DINOsaurs.

by archhn 5y ago

marginalia_nu 5y ago

The Republic is arguably more of a metaphor for the well-ordered mind, an analogy for his notion of a tripartite soul, much more than an earnest attempt at constructing a schematic for a utopian society. I do agree more people should read a few early Platonic dialogues because he teaches you to question things. I think, beyond anything else, that is what he wanted to teach. A lot of people call themselves skeptics today, but they seem primarily interested in debunking ideas and attitudes other people have that they don't share, but don't see that there is a lot of things they themselves take for granted.

archhn 5y ago
Interesting theory. It does appear to be incredibly naive at times when taken literally. Although there are some rather matter of fact conversations about the progression of political regimes to the point of tyranny, i.e., the post-democratic degenerate phase... which reads as a prophesy to me personally in these times. Totally agree with your other statement.
- marginalia_nu 5y ago
  Additionally, the society he's attempting to explore is a society in which justice is the single overriding principle. I think if there is anything to take away from that, it's that such a society maybe isn't so great. His critique of democracy does absolutely have a few good points. A lot of people get really mad when they see it, but I don't think that is at all constructive. If democracy is a good idea, it must stand on its own legs. We can't counter its criticism with what it promises to deliver, but only the reality of what it delivers. Denying or attempting to conceal its problems makes addressing them that much harder, and which problems are easier to fix after having festered for a long time? At the same time, I think the very Athenian democracy he criticized solved many of our problems today. Athenian officials had real skin in the game in a way ours do not. They risked ostracism (10 years of exile) if they misbehaved.
  - archhn 5y ago
    People get mad because its a concept they have faith in, have been indoctrinated to believe, and they also depend on it to keep political chaos at bay. You can't just pull the ideological rug out from under them, for they will fall--into the abyss. We aren't dealing with pure concepts here, but ideas that have life attached to them. Some ideas are preserved simply to preserve the life bound to them. I'm afraid this is all a moot point because democracy has already disappeared in the U.S.. We're a democracy in name only. Hopefully we don't go the way of the DINOsaurs.