PHL100Y1 Lecture : Republic 5.docx
Document Summary
Socrates entire argument is threatened with three of objections, which are detailed in book 5: Republic 5 (i) the status of women and children, 449a 466d; (ii) proper behavior in warfare, 466d 471c; (iii) how to bring the feverish society into existence, Professor king concentrates on the (i) and (iii). 1st objection: the status of women and children. Women are to have exactly the same training as men if women are to occupy the same social roles as men (451d 453a). Plato takes the radical view that women and men are equal in respect to the guardian clan. Women have the same nature as men do, thus a woman should do what she is best at; principle of specialization. The difference is that men are stronger and larger and women carry children and are weaker. The purposes of procreation should be based on eugenics: the best should be mated with the best to produce smart offspring"s.
