Rise and Fall of the Roman Republic

Outline
Platos philosophy (Conclusion)
Darwin and Plato Crito The Near Death Experience of the Soldier Er and the Purpose of Life (teleology!)

Rome
Cosmopolitan versus Greek Polis law Similarities and Differences between Greek and Roman origins

Return to Darwin
The sight of a feather in a peacocks tail, whenever I gaze at it, makes me sick. Charles Darwin New York Times, Feb. 10, 2009 D4

The problem
Recall Darwins main theory:
Chance variation Natural selection: the external environment, not the purposeful action of individuals, selects those individuals that are fit to survive

The peacocks tail seems to be an obstacle to survival Thinking about this made Darwin sick, because it seems to contradict his theory.

Darwins solution
"We may conclude thatthose males which are best able by their various charms to please or excite the female, are under ordinary circumstances accepted. If this be admitted, there is not much difficulty in understanding how male birds have gradually acquired their ornamental characters," Darwin wrote.

The answer is love of beauty

At the time, Darwin's theory on female choice in animals, and birds in particular, was revolutionary, and he spent pages justifying a bird's appreciation of beauty and the quality of "love" that must be felt between a pair bonding for life. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/ news/2002/09/0909_peacock.html

Teleology in evolution?
Why does the peahen choose her mate? Because of its beautiful tail feathers > Its not the external, unconscious environment that selects, but the female peahen:
Teleology, purposeful choice, in evolution

Why does the peahen have a love of the beautiful? Why is nature so beautiful?

Argument of the Crito

1) Critos appeal to Socrates: save yourself (family, friends, etc.) 2) S: We must not do anything wrong. Right? 3) C: What could be wrong with fleeing an unjust sentence? 4) S: Imagine putting this question to the Laws, and having them reply.

The Laws are your true parents

Are we not, first, your parents? Through us your father took your mother and bagat you. Tell us, have you any fault with those of us that are the laws of marriage? I have none, I should reply. Or have you any fault to find with those of us that regulate the nurture and education of the child, which you, like others, received? Did we not do well in bidding your father educate you in music and gymnastics? (Platos Crito)

Nature of Law
The laws give us birth, education. We can change states, choose other laws. We actively participate in lawmaking. => Voluntary agreement with the Laws (like a contract in trade, business)

Was Socrates Unjustly Condemned?

The procedure of the law has not been violated. Even if the court makes a mistake in judgment, it does so according to the Laws and so must be obeyed. What if everyone could escape a court decision? -> The laws would be destroyed.

Platos argument for the immortality of the soul

1) Eternity of Beauty, of certain truths of geometry 2) We can recognize (recollect, remember) these truths 3) So we have in us something immortal which enables us to know immortal Reality 4) I.e, the God-like element is within us, the soul.

Real nature of knowledge

5) To know something is to commune with that thing to identify with it, be one with it.
I.e., real knowledge is more like love: a transcendence of separate ego identity E.g., experience of transcendence (losing yourself) in creative knowledge or love.

NDE of the Soldier Er

Ers voyage to the Elysian Fields Next life lottery Odysseus choice Recall teleology: what is the purpose of my existence? Why was I born to my parents?

Rise and Fall of the Roman Republic

Charles Gibbon: History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
Spodek lists Gibbons reasons for fall of the Empire (197-8)

Empire presupposes the fall of the Roman Republic Why did the Republic fall? How did it arise?

Roman Timeline
1) 494-440: struggle of the orders > republic: Twelve Tablets of the Law, 451 2) 405-264 Internal, Italian wars 3) 264-146 Struggle with dominant external power of Carthage (3 Punic Wars) 4) 134 -71 BCE --Renewed class warfare: 3 Slave wars: 5) Fall of Republic (Emperor Augustus Caesar, 27 BCE - 14 CE) 6) Fall of Empire 476 CE

New order of events

Greece:
1st defend itself against aggressive landpower of Persia Then fight among themselves for power

Rome:
1st fights with Italian neighbors for power Then takes on the dominant sea-power of Carthage

Greek and Roman Empires

Greek empire under Alexander
Short duration of unity: 331 323 (BCE) Division soon after death of Alexander
Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt to 31 BCE: Octavian, who becomes Augustus Caesar, defeats Anthony and Cleopatra at Battle of Actium Seleucid empire (Persia) lasts to 200 BCE Greeks returned to internal warfare between city-states

Roman empire: long duration

Empire from 27 BCE to 476 CE

Why this striking difference?

Similarities of origin
Iron-age agriculture on rain-watered lands Freedom of independent peasants Internal inequalities > debt enslavement Early struggle of the orders
Roman phalanx Plebeians refuse to fight for patricians > veto

> Republican institutions

Reason for success of Plebs

Military power based on iron Power of the phalanx Dependence of Roman aristocracy on free, prosperous peasant army No already existing state = Similar to Greece

Role of Commerce
Most peasants elsewhere: subsistence producers Greece and Rome: produce for international market Dry summer climate of Mediterranean good for Olives, Winter =Wealth from peasants elsewhere > Greater freedom possible for local peasants

Difference: Geographic Challenge for Romans

Athens, Sparta: divided by mountains > Greek: narrow polis law for locals only Rome is open to Italian territories > Rome: law for others too Roman stick and carrot creates all Italian army Stick: war Carrot: Roman citizenship

Reason for differences

Romans must deal with neighbors from the start
Rape of the Sabine Women

Hence Roman law is cosmopolitan Hence: Rome first unites with others in Italy creating a powerful army of many nationalities Hence: Rome builds a long-lasting empire The lasting influence of Greece is cultural, not political: the Hellenistic

Polis law and Cosmopolitan Law

Alexander: Pharaoh in Egypt, King in Persia No Greek system of law: = Polis law
only Athenian, Corinthian, etc. Legacy of Greek empire: cultural (philosophy, art )

Roman empire is based on Cosmopolitan law

Republican Institutions
> Plebian Assembly, Tribune with Veto power Aristocracy: Senate Two consuls (Presidents) elected annually Other assemblies
Military: Centuriate Assembly Assembly of the People: moderates conflict

Limitation of Roman freedom

Law forbids enslavement of Romans Patricians continue to expand wealth using foreign slaves conquered in Roman wars > Pressure to expand, conquer Roman peasant dies in battle Lands of poor bought up by wealthy > Impoverishment > urban proletariat

Irony of History
Only some are free (Hegel) Greece:
Accept principle of enslaving others Romans enslave them

Rome
Cheap slave-produced grain ruins small farmer = Destruction of free Roman army, eventual fall of Roman empire