Plato's Political Philosophy: Context, Influences, and the Vision of the Republic

The Historical and Political Context of Plato

From Plato's birth until his death, Athens experienced a turbulent political life. Social evolution, starting from the early 7th century BC until the end of the Wars, constantly shaped the city, ultimately paving the legal path for social reform and democracy.

The city was the center of an independent state. Democracy became firmly established thanks to the work of the great statesman, Pericles. Athenian democracy rested on two fundamental pillars:

• Isonomia: Equality before the law.
• Isegoria: Equal right to speak in the assembly.

However, the Greek city-state was largely based on slave labor, who lacked all rights. Only about 25% of the population represented free citizenship.

The Age of Enlightenment and the Peloponnesian War

In the cultural field, the 5th century BC has been dubbed the Age of Enlightenment of Greece. Athens became the cultural center par excellence.

Around 431 BC, while Pericles still ruled, the Peloponnesian War began (between Athens and Sparta) for leadership in Greece. The war lasted over 30 years and ended with Sparta's victory over Athens. From a cultural point of view, natural, subjectivist, and emotional elements became accentuated.

Plato's youth and maturity proceeded throughout this period of the decline of Athenian power.

Plato's Philosophical Response to Political Decline

These events guided Plato's activity. He concluded that all states of his time were badly governed because their laws and morality were corrupted. Platonic philosophy clearly has a political purpose: Plato's ambition was to create a state where the death of Socrates would be impossible.

This treatment of political issues had been initiated by the Sophists in the 5th century BC. Facing the Sophists was Socrates, whose philosophy was oriented toward man's life in the city. Socrates based coexistence and democratic participation on defining universal moral concepts. His goal was to reach the essence of virtue.

The Purpose of the Republic

The proposed policy reflects the Platonic philosopher in The Republic. The Republic is a dialogue of maturity. The theme of this dialogue is justice, and the opponents are the Sophists. Plato attempts to define justice and show that happiness is only possible if justice exists.

The structure of the work is as follows:

• Books II, III, and IV: Define what justice is.
• Books V, VI, and VII: Study the conditions under which a just state can be established.

Fundamental Doctrines of Plato's Philosophy

Fundamental doctrines of Plato's philosophy include:

• The dual worlds (sensible and intelligible).
• The opposition between forms of knowledge.
• The vocation of the soul toward the knowledge of Ideas.
• The need for wise government (Philosopher King).
• The most important: The Theory of Ideas.

Plato's Philosophical Influences

Plato received various influences:

1. Heraclitus: Explaining the sensible world (constant flux).
2. Pythagoreanism: Fundamental issues regarding the immortal nature of the soul.
3. Parmenides: The distinction between sensible and intelligible knowledge.
4. Socrates: Aspiration to unravel the essence of everything, understanding knowledge as the universal concept.

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