Man in Society
&
Formation of
Government
Questions We’ll
Probably Discuss
• Is society made for man or is man made for society?
• Is the state a divine creation which man must not
question, or is it a result of a “social contract” among
men and subject to change when it no longer serves
men?
• How do rulers get their authority?
• Is revolution justifiable?
• Is totalitarianism or democracy correct?
• What is justice?
• What is the "good life"?
Basics of Political
Philosophy
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm8asJxd
cds
• She’s going to break down philosophy into
categories: take note of those.
• Why is she excited about political philosophy?
• What are the two questions she says are at
the heart of political philosophy?
Your Political
Philosophy
• Who gets what?
• Who says so?
PLATO
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q34MHpB
u0Oo
Plato’s Life
• Marked by political upheaval
• Democracy  30 Oligarchs (tyrants) 
democracy
• Under the new democracy: Socrates is found
guilty and executed
Plato’s Thoughts on
Democracy
• “Mankind’s troubles will never cease until
either true and genuine philosophers achieve
political power or, by some dispensation of
providence, rulers of states become genuine
philosophers.”
Republic
• A dialogue about justice
• Socrates describes Kallipolis (“Beautiful City”)
to show justice in the STATE and then moves
on to discuss justice in the INDIVIDUAL
Kallipolis
• To meet basic human needs, humans have to
cooperate
• Meeting needs creates more complex needs
which requires more complex structures to
meet those needs
• Fully realized – 3 groups in society:
– Guardians
– Auxiliaries
– Producers
Justice in Kallipolis
• When everyone functions together in such a
way to secure the good for the whole
community
• Functioning (for Producers and Auxiliaries) =
within the limits set by the Guardians
• Everyone does the job for which they are best
suited and doesn’t interfere in the jobs of
others
Wait a minute…
• Sounds like totalitarianism?
• Plato thinks:
– only a few can be rulers
– Ignorant should follow the leadership of the wise
– Guardians can use myth, deception to govern the
commonwealth
• Caveat: the Guardians are virtuous, wise men
whose choices are guided by the needs of the
greater good
In the end
• Later in life: Plato becomes political advisor to
Dionysius II
– Real life experiment to mold a philosopher ruler
– Ends in failure and disillusionment for Plato
• Take-away: 2nd best form of government (since
ideal statesman doesn’t exist) is state run by
men who are governed by wise LAWS