History of Western Philosophy

2.3.1.6 Doctrine of Immortality

[From psychology: the part of the individual, which "knows" sense impression and opinion, is the body; the soul knows or has genuine knowledge or science. Because the soul possesses apprehension of ideas prior to its contact with the world: all knowledge is reminiscence and all learning is awakening.]

Arguments for Immortality: Epistemological: [^1] The soul has contemplated eternal ideas and only like can know like: [^2] from the doctrine of reminiscences. Metaphysical: [^1] From the simplicity of the soul: it cannot be produced by composition or destroyed by disintegration, [^2] from vitality: as the source of its own motion, the soul is eternal [a survival of atomistic conceptions] [first cause argument, perhaps]and various other metaphysical arguments. Moral and Valuational: from the superiority and dignity of the soul: it must survive the body; a variation: everything is destroyed by its "connatural" evil; the evils of the soul [its worst vices: injustice, etc.] do not destroy the soul hence its indestructibility. [There are hardly any arguments advanced in the literature on immortality which are not foreshadowed by Plato.]

2.3.1.7 Ethics

Ethical being is one in which the superior principles dominate: rationality. Wisdom: reason over other impulses of the soul; bravery: reason over emotion [fear, pain]; temperance: reason over desireJustice: wisdom with bravery and temperance

2.3.1.8 Politics

Plato's theory of the state [in The Republic] is based on his ethics. Social life is a means to perfection of individuals. Laws result from imperfection of individuals which leads to the state. Classes in society result from functions of the soul; harmony among the classes results from functional relations of the healthy soul:

Ruling class: those embodying reason [philosophers]

Warriors: the spirited. Their function: defense.

Agriculturists, workers, merchants, artisans: lower appetites. Their function: production.

Justice in state: each class functions according to its character.

The ideal society is a family: Plato opposes monogamy, private property, recommends for the two upper castes who are to be supported by workers communism and common possession of wives and childrenPlato recommends: eugenic supervision of marriages and births, exposure of weak children, compulsory state education, education of women for war and government, and censorship.

The state is an educational institution, the instrument of civilization; its foundation must be the highest kind of knowledge which is philosophy. The education of the children of higher classes will follow a definite plan: identical for the sexes during the first twenty years: myths selected for ethicality, gymnastics for body and spirit; poetry, music harmony, beauty, proportion and philosophical thought; reading, writing; mathematics which tends to draw the mind from the concrete and sensuous to the abstract and real. At 20, superior young men will be selected and shall integrate their learning.

At 30, those who show greatest ability in studies, military officers, etc., will study dialectic for five years. Then they will be put to test as soldiers, militias and in subordinate civic offices. Starting at the age of fifty, the demonstrably worthy will study philosophy until their turns come to administer the offices for their country's sake .