Written work:

MARCELA ANDREA ARAGÓN SALAZAR 20132155541

Introduction to Plato's political thought
To introduce political science it is necessary to go to its root, to the root of the political concept and
what was related to it at the time. For this, it is necessary to investigate Plato's politics.
Plato's political theory is called: The Republic
It is a dialogue on justice: What is fair? It centers around the individual and the Polis. Plato affirmed that
the soul of being is too small a reality
What makes the city fair? What does it do just to be in particular?
His answer: Analogy of large letters and small letters: The republic is an analogy between the soul and
the polis.
“For the city to be fair, it must be divided into different groups, different functions and must occupy its
rightful place. Artisans, guardians and rulers. Each group has a role in society”Plato.
Artisans: survival of the polis meet basic needs (Mastery of pleasures) (Temperance) Majorities
Guardians: Defense of the city, military weapons (Fortress). Smaller number
Rulers: Smallest number (Prudence and Wisdom)

Artisans
Guardians
R
ul
er
s
Philosopher King: Only the philosopher has known the supreme age, the age of good, and therefore
only he is qualified to rule. Recognize what is good and put it into practice
 Philosopher
King

The best form of government for Plato is the aristocracy:

Aristocracy: "The government of the best". Only the city can be good, only then does justice become
reality, each one has to dedicate himself to what he is most capable of, regardless of any other criteria,
neither wealth, nor beauty, nor sex.
The woman has access to all tasks and the man also access to all.
*** What if this hierarchy breaks down? We will have corrupt regimes Justice disappears and injustice
appears
Unfair regimes for Plato:
1. Timocracy: Military government. They lack the necessary knowledge to govern, they will end up
going to chaos and war.
2. Oligarchy: Government of the wealthy. Rulers are corrupted by their love of money to which they
have easy access. For Plato this was useless because a society that only focuses on money would be a
vague and clumsy society and will despise good men
3. Democracy: when the mass takes power but is not capable of doing so because they do not have the
knowledge of good and have the same vices as the guardians or rulers
4. Tyranny: When demagoguery convinces the people to be chosen through manipulation
5. The republic imposes social morality; If everyone obeys their proper role in society, society will be
just. It is enough to observe the whole to observe each one of the parts.
** EXPLANATORY NOTE: Plato was investigating justice in the city to find out how just the soul
was -it should be noted that the republic is an analogy between the soul and the polis-
There was also an order for soul justice
a) The reason: Prudence and wisdom of good and evil
b) The irascible part: Will and strength
c) Concupiscible part: Sensitive appetites: Temperance corresponds to them
 REASON

IRASCIBLE PART

CONCUPISCIBLE
PART

If each part fulfills its function, then the soul will be just.

Why is your degree important for the current society?

To begin with, research in the social sciences and humanities serves to many very specific things. To
give some examples: thanks to geographers we have maps and better understand the problems of
regional economies; without sociologists no.
We would know how to generate statistics on poverty or how to carry out surveys; the anthropologists
carry out indispensable work for the development of focused policies to the original peoples; without
philosophers the ethics committees that should be in hospitals and other public departments, etc. There
could be numerous examples to this list. In addition, the research and debates promoted by historians,
anthropologists, geographers, sociologists, etc. they often provide ideas, information and concepts to
help us understand the world we live in, who we are, where we come from and where we are going.
Help to think about collective problems that we face and imagine fairer ways of organizing social life.
Provide including some of the terms that later become in common use.