A Critique of Plato's Just Society using the Notion of Fairness from Essay

A Critique of Platos Just Society using the Notion of Fairness from John Rawls - Essay ExampleHe viewed that there could be a harmony or just society, only when these inequalities were either factored in or eliminated, and this notion of fairness will be presented as a fundamental critique of Plato. The most(prenominal) explicit discussion of the tripartite part of the soul, and the primacy of reason therein, occurs in the fourth book of the Republic (435b). One of the first preliminary aspects of the soul, is that although the parts of the soul ar distinct in their virtues, Socrates also stresses that in the functioning of these parts, the soul must be considered as a whole Plato, 1992, p. 436a. What is implied by this, is as follows. If for example, iodin desire food, and this desire originated in the appetites, it would still require reason both to discern the means of satisfying this desire, but also it would require reason to know when one has had enough for the sake of heal th in which case, reason would act upon the will to suppress desire, so to speak. This is a chain of command, so to speak, which will be explored both as it is outlined in this section of the Republic, but also in terms of how this is established in the three classes of the state Haworth, 2004, p. 13. Further, it is important to in addition stress that the appetites be as necessary for reason for the sake of surviving. In other words, someone who had no appetite would starve, just as someone who had no will or spirit would have no discipline to stop eating or drinking. Thus, Socrates stresses that although reason is given privilege within the scheme of the soul, he also stresses that all three aspects constitute the whole, and this whole is necessary for surviving. In some ways, his position on the soul can be express to be a refutation of Thrasymachus position from the beginning of the dialogue where he argues that the just society is the one ruled by the stronger Adams and Dys on, 2003, p. 4. Socrates defines this relation, using, for example, the compulsion to drink extending from the appetites or the ir acute Plato, 1992, p. 439d part of the soul Doesnt that which forbids in such cases come into play if it comes into play at all as a result of rational calculation, while what drives and drags them to drink is a result of feelings and diseases? Apparently Plato, 1992, p. 439c-d. Although the surface appearance, suggests that there is a complete opposition between the appetites on the one hand, or, desire, impulse, etc.., and on the other hand, the rational component of the soul, it is as though there is a harmony of opposites which Socrates is arguing here. What is implied by this, is as follows. Even though reason and irrationality are opposed, they are united in the very(prenominal) functioning of the soul. While the appetites are controlled through the spirit or the will Plato, 1992, p. 440a, it is reason which makes the decision concerning how muc h control, or when to control the appetites. Again, it is important that we have appetites, and that they are necessary for survival, which reason is aware of, for the same reasoning, that is, for the sake of surviving or health, they must also be controlled. In keeping with Socrates example of drinking, it is often the case that an alcoholic, who is overcome by their appetites, may end up dying or being sick at the very least. Thus, the relationship between the parts of the soul, can be described as created a