According to Professor David Roochnik, in his lectures about The Republic, the choice of Piraeus as the setting for the dialogue is symbolic for two main reasons: Piraeus was the place where the Thirty Tyrants were defeated and democracy restored, in 403 BCE.
Contents
What is the Piraeus What is its importance to the Republic?
The Port of Athens (Piraeus)
Being the port of Athens, a major and powerful city-state in ancient Greece, Piraeus was a place to meet people from all over the world—and to hear about how things like government and justice went down outside of Greece.
Why was Socrates going to Piraeus?
The purpose of the visit is “to pray to the goddess; and, at the same time, I [Socrates] wanted to observe how they put on the festival, since they were holding it for the first time.” So, first, the main reason for going doing has to do with piety, religion.
What is the significance of the first line of the republic I went down?
Why does Plato make Socrates’ going down to the Piraeus the very first line of The Republic? As /u/Alsdf pointed out, the connection between these opening words and the necessity of the philosopher to return back down into the cave after being exposed to reality is obvious.
What is the setting of Plato’s Republic?
The dramatic setting of the Republic is Athens, probably about 422, during the Peace of Nicias, a time of relative peace and stability. The time of composition and publication is about fifty years later.
What is the Piraeus in Plato’s Republic?
Piraeus was the place where the Thirty Tyrants were defeated and democracy restored, in 403 BCE. Being the port of Athens, Piraeus was – as any other port city in the world – full of foreigners, some of whom, like Cephalus, were very rich.
What is the meaning of Piraeus?
/ (paɪˈriːəs, pɪˈreɪ-) / noun. a port in SE Greece, adjoining Athens: the country’s chief port; founded in the 5th century bc as the port of Athens.
What does cephalus think justice is?
Cephalus who was a representative of traditional morality of the ancient trading class established the traditional theory of justice . According to him ‘justice consists in speaking the truth and paying one’s debt. Thus Cephalus identifies justice with right conduct.
What is the apology and why was it written?
A dialogue written in Greek and set in Athens in 399 bce; probably written soon after 399 bce. The Apology dramatizes the trial that condemned Socrates to death for being insufficiently religious and for corrupting Athenian youth.
How does Polemarchus define justice?
After the discussion of justice as a craft, Polemarchus reiterates his faith in the definition attributed to Simonides: “justice is to benefit one’s friends and harm one’s enemies” (334b).
What does Socrates propose as a just penalty for himself after being found guilty?
The accusers of Socrates proposed the punishment of death. In proposing death, the accusers might well have expected to counter with a proposal for exile–a punishment that probably would have satisfied both them and the jury. Instead, Socrates audaciously proposes to the jury that he be rewarded, not punished.
Does Socrates believe in God?
Socrates also believes in deity, but his conception is completely different from the typical Athenians. While to the Athenians gods are human-like and confused, Socrates believes god to be perfectly good and perfectly wise. His god is rationally moral. His god also has a purpose.
Why does Socrates refuse the option of leaving Athens and leading a quiet life?
– The context of this statement is he is choosing his punishment for his trial and decides he does not want exile because he will constantly be driven from cities which will not allow him to do what he loves (i.e. question the hell out of people) and he refuses to live a quiet life without talking because again that …
Was Socrates a real person?
Socrates, (born c. 470 bce, Athens [Greece]—died 399 bce, Athens), ancient Greek philosopher whose way of life, character, and thought exerted a profound influence on Western philosophy.
Was Socrates a black Greek?
Its not likely he was black. He was a Greek born in Athens.
Was Socrates a vegetarian?
Socrates was a vegetarian Greek philsopher -Know thyself to be true. Socrates is the Classical Greek philosopher, best known for his motto, Know thyself to be true, or Be true to yourself. He was an active seeker of truth. Socrates teachings had major influence on western philosophy.
Did Plato disagree with Socrates?
Socrates has his teachings centered primarily around epistemology and ethics while Plato was quite concerned with literature, education, society, love, friendship, rhetoric, arts, etc. Socrates disagreed with the concept of overreaching; he describes it as a foolish way to live. 4.
How old was Plato when Socrates died?
about twenty-five
Plato was about twenty-five when Socrates was tried and executed, and had probably known the old man most of his life.
Who taught Socrates?
Along with Diotima, Aspasia was one of the two women philosophers whom Plato recognised as a teacher of Socrates. Her biography is subject to debate, but she is still famous for her knowledge of rhetoric and her skill in debate.
Who was Plato taught by?
Socrates
Plato was a philosopher during the 5th century BCE. He was a student of Socrates and later taught Aristotle.
What is Plato’s real name?
Aristocles
It was claimed that Plato’s real name was Aristocles, and that ‘Plato’ was a nickname (roughly ‘the broad’) derived either from the width of his shoulders, the results of training for wrestling, or from the breadth of his style, or from the size of his forehead.
What is the famous line of Plato?
“Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance.” “If a man neglects education, he walks lame to the end of his life.” “All men are by nature equal, made all of the same earth by one workman.” “Books give a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.”
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