For episode 3 see here.
Theory of the City-State
IV.Plato: The Statesman and The Laws
A. Written much later than The Republic
B. Resemblance between the two
1. Marked difference from The Republic
2. Plato's final reflections on the city-state
C. Of greater influence on political thought after Plato, departure point for
Aristotle
D.The Laws sketches a government in which law is supreme
1. Was a change from government of philosopher-kings of The Republic
2. Plato did not fully recognize these changes in his theory
3. Law-based government is still only the second best and not logically
compatible with it
4. The Republic presumed opposition between intelligence and perception
5. Law was seen by the Greeks as on the side of perception and experience
(i.e., convention)
6. Even now, law can be seen as irrational obstacle to intelligent chance or
action
7. For Plato, the good ruler, one who rules through knowledge and reason
should not be bound by law as that is meant to govern the average man
8. In The Laws, law become a surrogate for reason
E. The Statesman puts off The Republic as an ideal model not usually attainable
1. Has six-fold classification of governments, three good and three bad that
Aristotle later used
2. Sees democracy more favorably
F. The state in The Laws constructed with temperance as its chief virtue
1. Seeks to achieve harmony through a spirit of obedience to law
2. This meant a mixed state as the mode of political organization
G. The mixed state -- harmony through balance of forces or tendencies
1. Mixed monarchic principle of wisdom with democratic principle of
freedom
2. Saw original 'state of nature' as the life of peaceful herdsmen. With
agriculture comes civilization.
3. Urges study of politics attached to history of civilization (causes and
changes in political stability)
H. In The Laws, still favors communism but concedes private property and
private family life, due to human frailty, but regulates both
1. Land inherited but not to be divided or alienated
2. Produce goes to common (public) mess
3. Property to be equal except for limited personal items allowed
4. Citizens not to engage in industry or trade; what is necessary to be done
by resident aliens
5. Use of property regulated, only token currency, no loans with interest
I. Government belongs to the citizens, those who can afford to leave private
business of earning a living to slaves (on farms) and aliens. This was not
Periclean democracy.
1. State still to be weighted in favor of richer through four-fold division on
basis of private property
2. Education and religion remain roughly the same as in The Republic except
education becomes institutionalized
3. Religious persecution and the Nocturnal Council out of line with the rest
J. Government in the [ideal city]* of The Republic follows the rule of the father
over children, while The Laws more in line with government of and by
responsible citizens through law.
*Note: Sabine's reading of The Republic, Laws and Statesman follows traditional lines. He takes them literally, especially The Republic. But if one reads Plato's Socratic dialogues closely, it should be noticed that he actually is focused on justice, virtue (arete) of the individual. The Republic presents the model for the healthy soul balanced between its three parts with reason guiding desire and will. Socrates presents the outer polis to better see the inner one. As Plato understood the 'ideal city' of The Republic to be difficult to achieve in reality, he offered in The Laws a model for a city guided by reason embodied in law. (Even here he did not trust any particular system so added the Nocturnal Council, a group to be guided by philosophy to meet at night and review that was done during the day.) In The Statesman, he offers a model for rule by an individual guided by knowledge. But such a person would also be hard to find achieving or holding power.
Next week: Aristotle: Political Ideals
Theory of the City-State
IV.Plato: The Statesman and The Laws
A. Written much later than The Republic
B. Resemblance between the two
1. Marked difference from The Republic
2. Plato's final reflections on the city-state
C. Of greater influence on political thought after Plato, departure point for
Aristotle
D.The Laws sketches a government in which law is supreme
1. Was a change from government of philosopher-kings of The Republic
2. Plato did not fully recognize these changes in his theory
3. Law-based government is still only the second best and not logically
compatible with it
4. The Republic presumed opposition between intelligence and perception
5. Law was seen by the Greeks as on the side of perception and experience
(i.e., convention)
6. Even now, law can be seen as irrational obstacle to intelligent chance or
action
7. For Plato, the good ruler, one who rules through knowledge and reason
should not be bound by law as that is meant to govern the average man
8. In The Laws, law become a surrogate for reason
E. The Statesman puts off The Republic as an ideal model not usually attainable
1. Has six-fold classification of governments, three good and three bad that
Aristotle later used
2. Sees democracy more favorably
F. The state in The Laws constructed with temperance as its chief virtue
1. Seeks to achieve harmony through a spirit of obedience to law
2. This meant a mixed state as the mode of political organization
G. The mixed state -- harmony through balance of forces or tendencies
1. Mixed monarchic principle of wisdom with democratic principle of
freedom
2. Saw original 'state of nature' as the life of peaceful herdsmen. With
agriculture comes civilization.
3. Urges study of politics attached to history of civilization (causes and
changes in political stability)
H. In The Laws, still favors communism but concedes private property and
private family life, due to human frailty, but regulates both
1. Land inherited but not to be divided or alienated
2. Produce goes to common (public) mess
3. Property to be equal except for limited personal items allowed
4. Citizens not to engage in industry or trade; what is necessary to be done
by resident aliens
5. Use of property regulated, only token currency, no loans with interest
I. Government belongs to the citizens, those who can afford to leave private
business of earning a living to slaves (on farms) and aliens. This was not
Periclean democracy.
1. State still to be weighted in favor of richer through four-fold division on
basis of private property
2. Education and religion remain roughly the same as in The Republic except
education becomes institutionalized
3. Religious persecution and the Nocturnal Council out of line with the rest
J. Government in the [ideal city]* of The Republic follows the rule of the father
over children, while The Laws more in line with government of and by
responsible citizens through law.
*Note: Sabine's reading of The Republic, Laws and Statesman follows traditional lines. He takes them literally, especially The Republic. But if one reads Plato's Socratic dialogues closely, it should be noticed that he actually is focused on justice, virtue (arete) of the individual. The Republic presents the model for the healthy soul balanced between its three parts with reason guiding desire and will. Socrates presents the outer polis to better see the inner one. As Plato understood the 'ideal city' of The Republic to be difficult to achieve in reality, he offered in The Laws a model for a city guided by reason embodied in law. (Even here he did not trust any particular system so added the Nocturnal Council, a group to be guided by philosophy to meet at night and review that was done during the day.) In The Statesman, he offers a model for rule by an individual guided by knowledge. But such a person would also be hard to find achieving or holding power.
Next week: Aristotle: Political Ideals
No comments:
Post a Comment