Plato’s perfect society was brought up and we had a discussion on that as well. We also came up with a possible question for any future quizzes:
What are the three levels of Plato’s perfect society?
Answer: Philosophers (kings), soldiers, and workers.
After that, our group then continued our discussion of Plato’s perfect society. We then discussed why Plato felt that Philosophers should be in charge. Several members of our group were concerned because Plato would ban most art in his society and they loved art too much to see that happen.
Our conversation then turned to about the form of government that we live in. There was a breif discussion about the knowledge of the average voter and that there should be some kind of test to ensure the voter was up to date on the current issues before voting.
I believe that educating our voters would tremendously influence who would win the presidential election along with other elections, but then again shouldn't we question how much our vote really matters. Even though most people think that we live in a democracy, we honestly are a part of a democratic republic. We often hear "....for the people" ,but does that honestly mean anything is aimed to benefit US or let our voices be heard. I think not.
ReplyDeleteHere is a bit of food for thought. My group also talked about Plato. We came up with the conclusion that he was a quack. I agree with you when you said Plato believed that all Philosophers should be in charge. I personally think this is because he himself was a Philosopher. (What easier way to make people believe in your thought?) Plato talked a great deal about Philosophers becoming enlightened while us "normal folks" could never see the "light". I have a huge problem with this way of thinking. Who truly determines the point of enlightenment? The Philosophers? No one can be fully "enlightened" because there is always something more to learn about every subject. Here is a D.Q. to think about that my group proposed. Is one considered enlightened simply because he or she asked a question that no one knows the answer to?
ReplyDeleteWe talked about how Plato seemed a little arrogant because he thought he had the answers unlike Socrates who was all about questions. We also thought that his perfect society was arrogant because he put himself as head or king of the society and put the working man as the lowest on the totem pole. After our discussion though and hearing a counterpoint I am on the fence. That society could have worked during that time period because the working man wasn't usually educated or really involved in political affairs. So maybe Plato wasn't as arrogant as he seems in the text, maybe he was just outlining what could have been an ideal society in that time.
DeleteWhoops meant for my comment to be a post, not a reply to someone else's post. :/
ReplyDeleteI personally think that Plato was full of himself and that Plato's perfect society was a perfect example of that. He was the student of Socrates but had a different philosophy on life it seemed.
ReplyDeleteI agree that people should be tested of their knowledge of candidates running for president. I saw a youtube video that showed someone going around and asking them why they chose their specific candidates. Most of what they said was completely incorrect. It shows us that, even in today's society, we still discriminate.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you Tony, Plato seem to have this characteristic about him where he comes off as being a little different, and at times rather arrogant. Also looking at Plato I have a hard time accepting the fact that his writings about Socrates are unbiased.
ReplyDeleteOur society always talks about education, but yet many have recieved it. Most people in our society believe they're educated, but they have no common knowledge of what they're talking about when it comes to politics and other things about the world. I was the floater for this group and listening to group 3 discuss the "Yuck" factor, I feel that people in society are quick to judge and tell someone what they can and can't do, but they often have no resource or answers to back up their opinion.
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