Purchase Solution

Plato's book Republic

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

Please explain how the example of the tyrannical city shows us why it is bad to be a tyrannical, unjust person.

Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary

The expert examines Plato's book republic.

Solution Preview

After describing the tyrannical state in book VIII, Socrates embarks on a description of the soul of the tyrannical man. He starts by describing the base desires that everyone has--appetitive instincts that, unchecked, can lead people to do horrible and unnatural things. Most people, and philosophers most of all, are able to rule their appetitive part with their rational part. A man becomes tyrannical when he loses control of these appetites. The tyrannical man is vicious because his uncontrolled desires drive him to do terrible things to fulfill them. He is also the most wretched and unhappy because he is never satisfied, and is always being stung by his appetites into ...

Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
The World Health Organization

This quiz assesses the students knowledge about the World Health Organization. Although listed under “Philosophy” it is relevant to health care, political science, pre-med, and social scientist students as well.

Descartes Meditations on First Philosophy

Short quiz relating to Descartes

View More Free Quizzes
Related BrainMass Solutions

  • stylistic difference in Plato's Republic

    9293 Plato's Republic is explicated. Hello: There is a clear stylistic difference between Book 1 and the rest of the Republic....what does this say about Plato's views about the effectiveness of the Socratic cross-examination?

  • Plato's Republic

    The solution discusses Plato's book The Republic.

  • Help with Plato's book Republic

    9313 Help with Plato's book Republic Does Plato suggest that philosophers will have to be forced to rule the city? Please explain. I think there is some ambiguity with regards to this issue in the Republic.

  • Plato's "Allegory of the Cave'

    Plato's aim in the Republic is to describe what is necessary for us to achieve this reflective understanding. But even without it, it remains true that our very ability to think and to speak depends on the Forms.

  • Downward Spiral of Constitutions from Plato's 'The Republic'

    3214 Downward Spiral of Constitutions from Plato's 'The Republic' In Plato's Republic what causes the downward cycle of constitutions? A regime collapses if it is divided against itself.

  • Plato's definition of the human being and human society

    16952 Plato's definition of the human being and human society Using Platos (The Republic) and Nietzsche (Thus Spoke Zarathustra) How does Plato define the human being in the Republic?

  • Republic



    http://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/republic/context.html

  • Plato's Allegory of the Cave (an article review)

    We read this allegory in Plato's seminal work 'The Republic' and written as a 'fictional dialouge' between Plato's teacher Socrates and Plato's brother Glaucon.

  • The Socratic definition of justice in the state and in the individual.

    How does Socrates define justice in Plato's Republic? I am having a hard time understanding his line of argument. How does his definition of justice of the individual relate to his argument for justice in the state?

View More Related Solutions