Ideal vs. Real

Ideal vs. Real

Platonic forms are ideas of things that exist. According to Plato, forms are a representation of everything. For instance, one must have specific qualities to be called a human. However, “no human perfectly represents the human form.” Although all humans are similar, one perfectly represents humans. Therefore, Plato believed that every object, in reality, has a form. Besides, Plato thought that an object is an indispensable manifestation of the form and that the phenomena mimic the original form. Concerning metaphysical idealism, Plato assumed that the physical world around us is not real. Plato explained that the world is continually changing, and therefore there is no explanation for what it is. Plato thought that when we get a new idea or see something, we are in our mind creating something that already exists in the ideal world.

Plato’s Kallipolis

Plato argues that Kallipolis is unrealistic and unachievable. Plato took a pessimist’s standpoint against the city of Kallipolis. Socrates had a vision of a city and called it Kallipolis. Socrates classifies the city into trader, legislator, and warrior. According to Socrates, the three classes should never interchange for the sake of the city’s harmony. Similarly, Plato followed and came up with a fundamental rule that individuals should not “meddle in the affairs of others,” a phenomenon that will be core to the harmony of the city. However, according to Plato, even if Kallipolis intends to be just, it has to make preparations for dealing with unjust individuals. Also, Plato thought that any art that is overly questioning or instills fear should be censored. He also desired all citizens of the city to have the same foundations taught to them as children, which will make them abide by the rules imposed on the by the leaders of the town. Plato’s argument on Kallipolis relates to his allegory of the cave in which he returns to the cave after learning about the world. In his discussion, the ruler descends to the citizens in the cave to rule. Therefore, humanity makes inevitable mistakes that lead them into a state of fever. Through this, Plato attempts to explain that tyranny is an imperative phenomenon of man’s nature. As a result, instead of describing a Kallipolis that will be perfect, Plato reveals everything negative that will destroy it.

My city and Plato’s Kallipolis

Plato describes justice as the harmony between the classes in the city. Also, Plato’s city progressively expands into a structure of classes, education, a constitution, and touches on dealing with women and handling children. In Kallipolis, “the rulers are gold, the silver auxiliaries and brass and iron are the workers” (Plato). Thus, when the classes intermingle, the result is tyranny. In my city, there are many injustices due to disharmony between the rich and the poor. Moreover, the rich in my town live in estates while several poor people are homeless. Also, there is a structure for everything in my city. The structure is supported by legislation that ensures adherence. There are policies regarding education and rulers who are interested in making citizens think they are doing good when they have done little to nothing. The rulers of my city are not entirely tyrants but are unreasonable and, to some extent, despotic.

Plato and the Values

“No man is to be valued more than the truth” (Plato). Values such as the truth, order, safety, stability, efficiency, and being strong of body, mind, and spirit are good things in Plato’s as well as my city. However, to what extent? Plato generally views truth and other values as ethical aspects. However, in my town, the fact should specifically be kept, and falsehood spread where applicable. Values such as order are considered worthy of possessing in and adorable in my city. However, in my town, such values are universally moral and acceptable only when the circumstances provide a conducive environment for morality among those who possess them. In my society, sometimes falsehood has better efficacy in establishing its objective than the truth.

How is Plato realistic?

Plato is criticized for focusing on ideal and ignoring the real world works, but there is so much reality in his works. Plato is right when he says that communism is the point of getting everyone what they need and that both women and women should be treated as equals. However, no good comes with censorship. It is also true that my city is implementing Plato’s ideas, knowingly or unknowingly. For instance, women work alongside men, “implying that anyone can work.”

The allegory of the cave

The allegory of the cave relates humanity to prisoners stuck in a superficial world of appearances. People do not know the real world are do not understand the needs of the world. Plato things that humans have lost the ability to see the true meaning of life. Also, humans cannot connect with others anymore and forget that their purpose is giving. Concerning the spirit, Plato believes that it has three distinct parts, which are the reason, high spirit, and appetite. Plato describes that the spirit accepts the good and rejects the bad. Plato also claims that desires are natural. Through this, Plato attempts to explain that Kallipolis would experience both justice and injustice. In my city, people think that what they want is more important than the needs of others. Therefore, people forget that as much as they need to receive, they also have a role in giving. Just like the human spirit sensitizes the good and bad, so do my city is aware of both injustices and justice.