Plato's Social Order

9 Pages 2203 Words

eems, the members by nature.” (429a) This class corresponds to the learning aspect of the soul, as they are always directed at understanding the truth as it is, rather than imagining the truth, as it may seem. This calculating part of the soul is deemed in the philosopher kings to be deliberative in order to rule over the other classes. These guardians’ happiness is fulfilled because they know the truth of what is rather than of appearance. As the guardians are instilled with the most precious gift of learning in their soul, they are given the chance to live a life of justice. This life of justice of the guardians procures a life of happiness, justly performing acts of leadership, honesty, and trust for the other classes. Moreover, the lovers of wisdom are the truest and fortunate, as said in the Republic. “Therefore, of the three pleasures, the most pleasant would belong to that part of the soul with which we learn; and the man among us in whom this part rules has the most pleasant life.” (438d) The guardians do live a life of happiness infused with matters of intrinsic good throughout their lives. Ultimately, happiness is the result for guardians as they live a life of justice that causes the whole city to be happy.
The spirited virtue of the city explicitly shares the vision of courage in the soul of auxiliaries to justifiably defend and maintain the city of its behalf. This victory-loving class is always focused on mastery, victory, and good reputation. The auxiliaries could easily be classified as a class dependent on honor and preservation. A certain kind of preservation is courage in the soul of auxiliaries. This attribute allows these men to have courage on the battlefield as well in the political scene, by illustrating obedience to the guardians. The virtue of courage pervades the city as an element of honor and strength. Socrates defines courage as, “So a city is also courageous by ...