Plato's Republic Group

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suzannemacle...
Student
College - Sophomore

What are the 4 virtues of the soul? Explain the nature of each virtue and identify each par of the soul to which each belongs. (from Book IV)

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Posted by suzannemaclellan on Wednesday December 5, 2007 at 3:10 PM and tagged with plato, plato's republic, republic.

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  1. sagetrieb Teacher
    Doctorate

    Plato understood the human as analogous to the state, so just as the state has certain functions with different classes to perform them, so the soul is composed of different parts, each of which is responsible for a virtue. In my reading of The Republic, however Plato accounts for three parts of the soul (just as the state has a philosopher king (rulers), soldiers, and others). The three parts of the soul are the rational part, which thinks and discerns true from false; the spirited soul, also called the “will,” which carries out what the reason dictates; and the appetitive soul is desire, that part of us that feels rather than reasons. The virtue of the rational soul is wisdom, of the spirited soul is courage, and of the appetitive soul is self-control or moderation

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/republic
    http://www.philosophypages.com/hy/2g.htm

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    Posted by sagetrieb on Wednesday December 5, 2007 at 5:32 PM