Socrates, Platon, & Aristotle PDF

Preview

Summary

Socrates Platon Aristotle Alexander (King) Platon Socrates (his master) dies when 28 yrs old Magna Anima 2 types Socrates (according to Platon) Master magister MADE A PERSON A Socrates) He had a contact between life and truth (not abstract, smt we can experience) He was a truly citizen Therefore, he...

Description

Socrates  Platon  Aristotle  Alexander (King) Platon Socrates (his master) dies when he’s 28 yrs old Magna Anima  2 types -

“great soul/spirit”  Socrates (according to Platon)

-

Master  magister

¿WHAT MADE A PERSON A “GREAT SOUL”? (= Socrates) · He had a contact between life and truth (not abstract, smt we can experience) · He was a truly citizen  Therefore, he becomes impossible to forget and the most exceptional person He considers that there’s 2 kinds of people  not everybody has the capacity to sacrifice/energy/determination/courage:  We can distinguish 2 kinds of life: 1. Living according to mediocrity 2. Living according to truth  ARISTÓS  Aristocracy = always  we can’t decide o Society will never be equal  not a social class  There can’t be democracy Platon wrote 3 books that talk about politics: 3. The Laws (influenced European politics)

1. The Republic 2. The Stateman Republic = politeia (greek)

Constitution/regime of a State 

¿WHICH IS THE BEST CONSTITUTION? (= values)

Not so big = polis

A concept of justice/injustice  how to rule the city & in the name of what, which are the problems we should avoid, etc.

1

 The worst of the worst is the civil war  tragedy Violence within the civilization  = polis  The best (highest value) is peace  health Platon understands we can’t answer what “justice” means unless we face before:

¿WHAT IS A HUMAN BEING? 2nd Qs: ¿What’s his highest expression? ¿Is he part of nature? ¿An animal?  We have 3 images of what is a HB in Europe

1.Platon’s vision/conception: -

Soul/Anima (sijé) that was before we existed  We’re a result of a degradation

-

There’s a need to recover what we were  wise & pure

2.Christian’s conception: -

Influence on the political conception of power

-

We’re a result of a degradation because we were made to life in paradise (essence of our existence)

-

We need to recover to it, but not till we die

3.Darwin’s conception (modern & hegemonic): -

HB is a result of evolution  we’re in progress and we’re not its result

-

We don’t know our essence by going to the origins

-

We’re more intelligent than ever before

 Platon’s conception helps him announce his political structure o Politics helps us recover from the regression

The Republic · HB are not equal  it’s a mistake to think the contrary 2

-

Renée Descartes (anti-platonic)  De la métode (during the “30-year War”) o The beginning of the democratic era because we are all rational 

it depends on the way we use it  the method used

· There are some HBs touched by a light  interested in truth  genius souls, selfdemanding, and who go beyond mediocrity · Comparison of the polis with the human body -

Healthy (fragile) = reasonable o HB  listen & study what experts know + o POLIS  

Being careful because the way to chaos/violence is always opened



Under the control of the ones who know what’s best for the city 

In democracy, everyone seems to be an expert  Government controlled by ignorants who ignore themselves and the difference with wise people

Book I & II -

Book I  Thrasymachus o Nothing + natural than having friends (love) & enemies (hate) o Human condition leads to conflict & we’ll never be able to go beyond this condition o We’re friends because we have an interest (human nature /& politics) o It’s just (or natural/normal) that the strongest has the power & that he’ll rule according to his interests & that the law (as expression of power) protects the interest of the strongest) 

Strength = law



Trust < Control



We’ll never have peace, nor harmony, so we’ll always have to e ready for a battle 3

-

Book I (XII) o Justice is the interest of the strongest  the government’s interest is in who has the power (expressed within the law) Strength/power = capacity of making a law that defends my interests



Origin of the law = justice  it benefits me & my friends (= interests) We’re selfish by nature



o Justice is a convention (what’s convenient to the strongest) o Consequence: justice can change (it’s not absolute)  someone in politics has to be adaptable (= not to have moral values) -

Book I (XVI) o The just is always a loser in comparison with the unjust 

How can we improve our society? 

It can’t change the content, but the form

o Happiness is understanding nature’s language & having the strength or strong friends -

Book II o Glaucon’s conception of justice 

Nature and origin of justice 

According to Thrasymachus we have a bad conscience (Nature Conscience) o Why, if we act according to nature? o What’s the origin of conscience & moral ideas?



There’s 2 kinds of people in this world: o Well adapt to nature 

Enjoy life, luxury, & its pleasures 

A powerful minority  Happy

o Unadapt to nature 

Don’t enjoy the pleasures of the world & they can’t have power because they’re weak 

The majority  Unhappy

4

o They elaborated the idea that the strongest should feel bad to use power  transforming powerful people’s conscience o The ones who have nothing to offer want equality and peace o They use language to elaborate moral values  strategy to protect their interests  attempt to enslave the best type of HBs (Aristós) by making them have bad conscience when they don’t have one *Civilization is hypocritical because of their nature’s condition  the only truth because there can’t be any metaphysical truth (= it’d mean there’s smt beyond nature) o All men who practice justice do so against their will, for necessity, but not as a good o Acting to moral codes is against our nature  Gyge’s gold ring (IV) o Justice isn’t routed to the heart of HBs o Moral codes are only followed for acceptance of others  fear of the consequences (isolation, solitude, etc.) Quick Summary · Power/Justice & law are just tools at the service of the strongest · Law is just a convention; there’s nothing good or bad except will to power · The only reality in the world is egoism. The very “nature” of HB determines to act according to the own interest · We don’t love the law, but we fear the consequences of breaking it Crime & Punishment There’s 2 kinds of people by the law of nature: -

Ordinary (inferior): follows the law  material that serves to reproduce its kind

-

Extraordinary: transgresses the law  he has the right to do so because he has the talent to utter a “new word” o Example: Napoleon  he transgressed the ancient law & made a new 1

Continuation

5

Platon considered that there’s smt divine (SIJÉ  anima) in the HB (metaphor) It comes from another world  nature is not the only reality Therefore, there’s an important Q to be happy that we can’t ignore:

¿WHO ARE WE?

-

We’re + complex, contradictory, not as easy to describe as animals, etc.

-

There’s tragedy/agony in our lives  we can’t be a pure SIJÉ (soul)  problematic life/conscience

-

We’re limited/complex & we act according to this  the problem appears when people don’t act according to their limitations

-

We have to accept the differences between HBs  equality is an abstract idea Harmony in polis

-

¿Is it possible for an individual HB to be just in an unjust polis?  People are influenced by their societies  When society is corrupted, an individual can’t be pure & a good HB ¿What is the 1st thing we can do? Society  1st step: Education

through revolution  Platonic conception: idealistic o Perfection is impossible to reach, but we can always improve  it is our responsibility to face this challenge  Thrasymachus conception: realistic o There’s no moral progress possible Platon thinks politics isn’t the strategy of the strongest  new conception  goals:  Who rules the city must be responsible  not taking any advantage  Public goodness = wealth of the polis = what is reasonable Acting according to LOGOS  reason NOT interest  wise person  brings harmony = justice  not perfect but we have to take the challenge anyway 6

Forget power

substitute: authority



strength money influences military power intelligence information

respect recognition acceptance no need of power, but of word

legitimation comes from indifference on its legitimation

Legitimation comes from recognition

Human life isn’t only the expression of nature  1 special ingredient  divine dimension  he’s able to do smt + than being egoist  Trasymachus perspective o Power isn’t the only way to put order in society 

This has nothing to do with moral values



Authority can run a society with the expression of harmony (the pattern) between others POWER leads to CORRUPTION while AUTHORITY leads to HARMONY

it comes from recognition  it doesn’t need

you give the appearance of your

power nor violence  education makes

best face in order to be accepted

people recognize who has to rule the city

 you can’t show how you are because you’re afraid of the consequences  appearance

nobody wants justice coming from power

what I am & what I want is hidden

Platon’s utopia 7

-

Rulers of the city  philosophers

-

Security of the city  warriors

-

Practical Q in the city  workers Working class (Tripalium  torture) o Most of the people o Main objective: sustain the city o Wok is considered a limitation in life o It can’t be desirable  it’s an obligation Warriors o Distinction between using force (unsure justice & order) & violence (without LOGOS  source: ideas) o They must be educated  source: poetry & music  they lead to balance & harmony o It’s an instrument of justice, but not of violence

Rulers (ARISTÓS  the best) o Legitimation comes from wisdom o Ideal (ARETÉ) way of living comes from them  philosophers  life determined by thought o Rationals & reasonables  happy city o Life based on thinking o Solitude when being intelligent  leadership & wisdom aren’t well combined because leadership means being in contact with not so intelligent people  it’s difficult to convince philosophers to be leaders

Justice = Harmony Recognizing our own limitations ¿HOW TO MAKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND DIFFERENT KINDS OF INTELLIGENCE?

not doing so = democracy 8

Socrates  Platon  Aristotle  Alexander (King) Aristotle One of the greatest thinkers: · + brilliant student of Platon · He knew everything that could be know at that moment · Master of Alexander the Great He’s 18/19 when he goes to Athens and meets Platon  they spend 30 yrs together He writes a book  Politics In opposite to Platon, he was reluctant of abstract ideas but was much more concerned of reality (≈ Machiavelli) He considered hat observation without ideas/criteria was useless  he had some ideas: -

The whole is + important than the part o The State is + important than the individual

-

Superiority of the soul to the body o Reason goes before desire  philosopher

-

Superiority of limits & moderation to the immoderate desire of wealth o We need courage but, to what extend?

-

Parents must rule children o Democracy causes its perversion

-

The wellborn must rule the vulgar

-

The old must rule the young o Wisdom comes from years of experience  it’s one of the conditions to be wise

-

Masters must rule slaves / The better must rule the worst / The thinking must rule the ignorant

HB is under the condition of 2 instincts  continuation/preservation of nature life: -

Reproductive instinct  family 9

-

Self-preservation instinct  village  Family + Village = State



¿WHAT’S ITS ROLE?

Only elaborated by some societies when fulfilling

making possible a

these two institutions

happy life

an individual can only be happy in the

no happiness without a State

framework of a political organization

there’s a difference between knowing how to life and how to be happy ¿WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO HAVE THE NATIONALITY? Aristotle thought that residence was not a criteria to determine it  How to decide who is citizen/Athenian? -

IUS SOLI: Belonging to a land

-

IUS SANGUIS: Belonging to an ascendance/ancestor

-

NATURALIZATION: Belonging to a land for a certain amount of time

-

IURE MATRIMONI: Marring someone who belongs to that land

Residence ≠ Citizenship Son/Daughter of citizens

Son/Daughter OR

of who defended the city at the risk of their lives

There’s no State without definitions  it forces people to decide a nationality Different constitutions & forms -

Right constitutions 10

o Monarchy, Aristocracy, and Polity (politei/a) -

Deviation forms (= degradation) o Tyranny, Oligarchy, and Democracy (Book IV, I)

¿WHICH IS THE BEST FORM?

 It depends: very pragmatic (not dogmatic) o Deciding according to the conditions/circumstances o Empirical  learning from reality (≈Machiavelli)  In ideal circumstances, there’s a very best option but, generally, it depends on the situation  PRUDENTIA [convention results in justice  flexibility] o Ideal form of politics Monarchy 

Excellence + / Acceptance –



Why?  Because someone touched by the light can act without anyone disturbing him



It’s less realistic  mostly impossible to establish it It’s extremely difficult to find an excellent person who’s



ready to sacrifice his life ruling the city and that most people will accept such an extraordinary person o Solitude + tension/incomprehension [with others] 

It is very difficult to be happy

almost impossible to find o 2nd possible form of politics 

Aristocracy



Excellence + / Acceptance +



It’s the rule of a few nº of good man  some advantages: 

Group brings dialogue/conversation o Wiser than its wisest member o Its quantity affects the quality of thoughts



A person can lose control over its reason  it doesn’t happen in a team 11

 

It keeps balance & serenity  thanks to the team

It’s ideal to think that aristocracy can last for a long time in a government because perfection isn’t stable  decadence

o 3rd possible form of politics  

Democracy

It’s not the worst option (≠ Platon) because the corruption of the best is rather the worst (= Tyranny)  “Corruptio optimi pessima”

¿WHICH ARE THE CONDITIONS FOR A GOOD STATE?

“Politics” is very close to “ethics”  Happiness: -

Comes from yourself (Socrates) o Aristotle isn’t convinced  In a certain way, it depends on the State  The Government has an ethical & pedagogical function

-

Is the very end of human life o Because it gives sense to everything  our goal 

3 kinds of conditions:

1. External goods: we can’t ignore some physical conditions 

Nº of population of the State o Which is the right nº to be happy? o There must be a control over the borders o Everybody must know each other  no strangers



Size of the territory o Not too big, not too small  an Empire destroys happiness



Make clear what’s a happy citizen o Moral virtues must be clarified o Reputation makes people be who they are 

We’re not good by nature, but by education  through the State & a political life



People must share smt in common  ¿what must it be? o Platon said everything 12



He had to abolish family & private property (Government)

o Aristotle doesn’t believe in avoiding diversity within citizens, but with FILIA (= love) 

Hate makes it impossible to share things & keep together



Love must be expressed through the community and is its source



There’s different types of FILIA: 

Based on emotions & pleasure o The community won’t be permanent, but provisional  what we share isn’t substantial



Based on passion o Love smt together in a passionate way  loving what is excellent to keep each other always together o A State is based on it passion for being rational  the root of fragmentation is irrationalism

2. Spiritual goods 

Ethical education



Good acts congruent to reason



Only way to change someone  through education or political life



The good for our body  we are body (not to have it)

Political corruption on the Middle Age Basic ingredient  Christianity (In Europe) Middle Age isn’t static  people’s mentality changed a lot  1st revolution in Europe: its irruption is a revolution itself  new values 

Christianity  completely new conception in Europe of the world: moral values, science, the human being, etc.

 2nd revolution in Europe 13

The French Revolution



3 moments of political power (on the Christian’s conception) -

Beginning: power’s not interesting for Christianity

· HB is a social being (not isolated)  society is part of the HB & Christianity accepts the conditions that make possible a society  There must be a political institution  essential to rule the city  Necessity of subordination to this institution  to be obedient · Christianity isn’t interested in a political revolution to shape society · Civil power accords to the will of God  rev. against the Government = contradicting God’s will · Christians = good citizens  obedient to law, never wanting to change it [reason: it’d not change Hº] Text  Pilate & Jesus VERITAS: Officially true, recognized by the law  juridical concept GREEK VERSION: Discovering the truth  knowledge concept HEMET  Jesus’ language (Hebrew)  truth comes from Hº  historical concept Saint Paul  writer and Jewish Judaism  religion that was + related to politics in the Roman Empire “christós” is “meshia” in Greek “meshia” is “king” in Hebrew  politics + religion  always together  Christianity is presented as a contradictory believer in this aspect because it doesn’t have political goals o Until the fall of the Roman Empire  all institutions are devastated, but the Church  the Pope gains authority

14...