Plato is a Cool Guy.

Yo.

So, I really don't know all that much about Plato. My first encounter was probably actually sometime back in highschool. My friends AdSB and ML frequently talked Philosophy and History. And maybe a few years ago in Asia DP and myself had a talk with a guy about 'the cave' and I learned a bit about Platonic forms? However, my real first time actually talking about him and learning about him was very briefly last semester in my philosophy of the self and personal identity. We briefly talked about his view of dualism, the mind being the soul and the body being a sort of cage for it. But yes, we only briefly talked about that as we learned of Locke's thoughts on the memory criterion.

This semester I am taking a class on Critical Thinking and Argument analysis and evaluation.
What a great class to take.
Indeed. Yesterday we looked at Plato's The Republic: Book IV.
I've heard about that! What was it like?
It was interesting to actually read some Plato. He writes in this odd dialogue format, which I was thinking about and it seems as though it strengthens his arguments just by making it seem like someone else agrees with him.
Yes, it certainly does.

Anyways, this book was all about what a just and perfect city would look like and how that would also relate to a just and perfect person. Plato saw the city as having three general classes / occupations: workmen/producers (all skilled trades and works); warriors/auxiliaries (to defend the city); and rulers/philosopher kings (ruling wisely). He spoke of how each of these divided classes corresponds to a virtue. The rulers with wisdom; the warriors with courage; and the workmen with moderation, meaning that they are to be content in their situation with being ruled by those who are wiser than they. Justice, as Plato put it, was that everyone was to practice one of the occupations in the city which they are most suited to. When everything is in order as it should be, that is justice. For a class to desire another class or to try and do more than one occupation is to cause chaos and practice injustice.

This he corresponds to the soul. That the soul has three parts. These three parts he referred to as the appetites, the spirit, and reason. Appetites always desiring their selfish desires; reason trying to keep the appetites in check and to rule over the soul; and the spirit being the part that follows reason and fights for justice either being angry when not treated justly or content when justly dealt with. Again, justice being when everything is in proper order. A person is healthy when his soul is in order.

Plato apparently doesn't like democracy, which he gets to in book VIII, for when those who are wise and can rule to properly keep us all in check of moderation all will be better. The whole city will be happier. while in democracy the people, who are properly represented, chase their appetites regardless of what the better ultimate good could be.

Anyways, Plato says a lot of stuff which is really Biblical. One case is just at the end after he has explained what justice and injustice would look like the question comes up: "So it now remains, it seems, to inquire whether it is more profitable to act justly, live in a fine way, and be just, whether one is known to be so or not, or to act unjustly and be unjust, provided that one doesn't pay the penalty and become better as a result of punishment."

The answer was "But, Socrates, this inquiry looks ridiculous to me now that justice and injustice have been shown to be as we described. Even if one has every kind of food and drink, lots of money, and every sort of power to rule, life is thought to not be worth living when the body's nature is ruined. So even if someone can do whatever he wishes, except what will free him from vice and injustice and make him acquire justice and virtue, how can it be worth living when his soul--the very thing by which he lives--is ruined and in turmoil?" (emphasis mine)

This sounds so similar to something Jesus said. "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matt16:26. Directly afterwards He speaks of how He will come back in judgement dealing to each as their deeds require. Directly before speaks of how much more worth it is to lose one's life for the sake of the gospel and Jesus' name.

What does this all mean to me? Hmmm. To be willing to follow after our wise and eternal King Jesus despite what I may desire, knowing that He knows best for me? hmm.

May God help me to trust in Him more and more and by His Spirit empower me to moderation and self-control.

D.Fa

PS. Another thought was on the division of the soul in relation to the three biblical divisions of heart, mind, and soul. Idk what that'd look like exactly, but it seems to correspond well with our sinful flesh led by appetites, our renewed knowledge and reason in Christ, and our spirit which agrees with the Holy Spirit. But idk enough to write all about that. haha