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A review by gijshuppertz
De Ideale Staat by Plato
4.0
Plato's republic is genuinely an exciting and relatively easy read. While your attention is definitely required, it is a book that everybody who is slightly interested in philosophy can pick up. The Socratic dialogues read easily and the topics are relevant and gripping.
That being said, the book is a classic, does not mean that all the parts are equally well written. Some argumentations are lacking and it is easily visible that the book is from a distant time. This is also one of its major plusses, it is amazing to realize that you are reading a work that has past generations upon generations and is now in your hands.
In my opinion, some of the most imaginative books were books 2-4 (on the soul and how it is connected to the state), the allegory of the cave, and lastly his regimes.
I disliked books 2-4 quite a bit because, in the previous books, Plato seems to have found the cardinal virtues out of thin air and just leaves it at that (wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance). However, in 2-4 he tries to investigate how these virtues are reflected in the state. Thereby making up his different classes of rulers, guardians, and workers. Although he relies quite a lot on the idea that a person can only be good at one job, thereby limiting every citizen to only one occupation, it is interesting how he envisions an efficient and happy society.
What I found particularly interesting, was Plato's thoughts on art, myths, and education. While sometimes being a bit over the top with his negative attitude towards art. It is provoking to hear his argumentation regarding the influential workings of art and how it can break or shape people. Even in the current day and age, one can make a convincing argument that some types of art (or media) can have a negative effect on one's mood, attitude, and behavior. Thereby making the decision to cut out these types of media. One can think of the use of TikTok as an example of this.
Plato's allegory of the cave and his discussion of different regime types are classics. In general, interesting reads, and especially the allegory of the cave was fantastic to read once since it makes up so much of later philosophy.
Lastly, I wanted to note that I do not fully agree with the critiques (especially of Karl Popper) that Plato was a totalitarian thinker or that he lead the fundaments for later totalitarianism. While yes with the knowledge of our age, we can see some parallels, this does not mean that we can interpret Plato as consciously knowing or wanting a totalitarian state. For people interested in how to genuinely interpret historical texts I would like to recommend Quentin Skinner's Meaning and Understanding in the History of Ideas. Furthermore, in the text, it is emphasized multiple times that the organization of the state is developed with happiness for most people in mind. I would like to think that if we could debate Plato on this thought and how it might develop later on, he might have changed his mind.
That being said, the book is a classic, does not mean that all the parts are equally well written. Some argumentations are lacking and it is easily visible that the book is from a distant time. This is also one of its major plusses, it is amazing to realize that you are reading a work that has past generations upon generations and is now in your hands.
In my opinion, some of the most imaginative books were books 2-4 (on the soul and how it is connected to the state), the allegory of the cave, and lastly his regimes.
I disliked books 2-4 quite a bit because, in the previous books, Plato seems to have found the cardinal virtues out of thin air and just leaves it at that (wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance). However, in 2-4 he tries to investigate how these virtues are reflected in the state. Thereby making up his different classes of rulers, guardians, and workers. Although he relies quite a lot on the idea that a person can only be good at one job, thereby limiting every citizen to only one occupation, it is interesting how he envisions an efficient and happy society.
What I found particularly interesting, was Plato's thoughts on art, myths, and education. While sometimes being a bit over the top with his negative attitude towards art. It is provoking to hear his argumentation regarding the influential workings of art and how it can break or shape people. Even in the current day and age, one can make a convincing argument that some types of art (or media) can have a negative effect on one's mood, attitude, and behavior. Thereby making the decision to cut out these types of media. One can think of the use of TikTok as an example of this.
Plato's allegory of the cave and his discussion of different regime types are classics. In general, interesting reads, and especially the allegory of the cave was fantastic to read once since it makes up so much of later philosophy.
Lastly, I wanted to note that I do not fully agree with the critiques (especially of Karl Popper) that Plato was a totalitarian thinker or that he lead the fundaments for later totalitarianism. While yes with the knowledge of our age, we can see some parallels, this does not mean that we can interpret Plato as consciously knowing or wanting a totalitarian state. For people interested in how to genuinely interpret historical texts I would like to recommend Quentin Skinner's Meaning and Understanding in the History of Ideas. Furthermore, in the text, it is emphasized multiple times that the organization of the state is developed with happiness for most people in mind. I would like to think that if we could debate Plato on this thought and how it might develop later on, he might have changed his mind.