Plato´s Republic -Part II

The second half of The Republic brings us to the heart of Plato´s metaphysics expressed in the famous Allegory of the Cave. Philosophy is vindicated as necessary to make the right choice in life and to help the soul in its ascent from the world of the senses to the highest intelligible reality beyond all change and becoming. This master teacher of philosophy puts forth other evocative analogies like that of the Sun to explain the nature of the divine, and the Divided line to explain the different levels of reality in his system.

We also will discuss Plato´s sometimes surprising views on various forms of political constitution including timocracy, oligarchy, democracy, and tyranny as well as the aristocratic rule of the philosopher king. The contest between philosophy and poetry to define the character of Greek education (παιδεία) is resumed in these chapters with Plato´s metaphysical and moral critiques of tragic poetry explained. We also arrive in these closing chapters at Plato´s answers regarding whether justice is valuable in itself or only for its consequences.

Plato contrasts the life of the wise and virtuous philosopher with that of the tyrant. In this discussion, Plato examines the question "What is the good life. " as well as the character of the human soul and the question of its immortality, and its fate after death.