POL200Y1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Timocracy, Oligarchy, Aristocracy
Idea of something answers the question 'what is'
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What is justice? --> answers question
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Ideas
Truth about all human societies
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Group of citizens living together
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Manmade
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Depicts mental necessities of human life
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How education works, what philosophy can do for us
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Image of us all chained and facing wall - do not see sun
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Natural
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Depiction of reality, not actually reality
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Images of most important things
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Believe things about justice are true --> doubly removed from the truth
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All highest truths are only partial truths
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Opinion masquerading as truth
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Philosophy is the refinement of partial opinion
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Shadows
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Permanent tension between philosophy and politics
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No straight path to the truth
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Promise of release form the cave --> working through images
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Cave is permanent, will never be changed
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Philosophy will be the best rules making the best decisions with regard to justice because
they best understand
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Possibilities of Philosophy
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Changes the perception of philosophy
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Limits of Philosophy
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Cave
Rule of the guardians / wise / philosophers
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Public Character is ordered to nature
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Private character, soul is perfectly ordered
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Decline: eros takes over
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Aristocracy
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Rule of honour / glory / war --> auxiliaries take over and enslave the rest
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Public character: desire for money is underneath the desire for war
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Private: really want money
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Decline: desire for money overtakes their desire for war
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Timocracy
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Rule of the rich / money, extreme division between the rich and poor
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Public: doesn't spend money wildly because wants to keep
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Decline: poor unite and overthrow
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Oligarchy
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Rule of the many --> seeking freedom
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Best regime to have philosophic conversation
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Not structured, ruled by private interests
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Decline: Desires are out of control - eros dominates
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Democracy
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Rule of eros
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Tyranny
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Decline
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Book VIII
Tutorial 7
November 15, 2016
11:00 AM
TUTORIAL Page 81
Document Summary
Idea of something answers the question "what is" How education works, what philosophy can do for us. Image of us all chained and facing wall - do not see sun. Believe things about justice are true --> doubly removed from the truth. Promise of release form the cave --> working through images. Philosophy will be the best rules making the best decisions with regard to justice because they best understand. Rule of the guardians / wise / philosophers. Rule of honour / glory / war --> auxiliaries take over and enslave the rest. Public character: desire for money is underneath the desire for war. Decline: desire for money overtakes their desire for war. Rule of the rich / money, extreme division between the rich and poor. Public: doesn"t spend money wildly because wants to keep. Decline: desires are out of control - eros dominates. Tyrant is slave of desires, has to perpetually flatter.
