The central argument in Plato’s Republic concludes that it is always better to be just, which is to lead one’s self with reason rather than appetite or emotion. The central argument consists in delimiting parts of the psyche, considering what happens when the parts are in various orders (classified by character/government), then acknowledging that just people are least likely to regret the kind of person they are.
This skeleton of the Republic’s ethical argument does not rely on Platonic metaphysics, but this SEP article suggests that the Republic’s ethics do rely on Platonic metaphysics: plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristotle-ethics/
“Aristotle’s goal is to arrive at conclusions similar to Plato’s, but without relying on the Platonic metaphysics that plays a central role in the argument of the Republic.”
It has always amazed me how many people have read the Republic and just never got it. Even poor old Aristotle missed it.
Even after Plato reiterated the point in the last book, people did not get it–and thus we have Plato’s so called Utopia.
Well, what he was asked to do was to put the most just man in the most unjust circumstances–in such a manner as to fool both man and gods, but like he said in the last book, he certainly could fool men, but not God.
I suspect that the Republic is like a graduation piece. I would study the other dialogs long and hard before I attempted it. Until I understood what he was doing, it made me sick to my tummy. As is typical of Plato’s mastery, he puts a great deal of good directives on what it takes to become a philosopher, the best of work in the worst place.
But that hint was given from the start, the best one to protect, was the best theif. The premise was iterated through the text and was the outline of the work. Knowledge of a thing covers boundary to boundary.
Now, part of my charity works I post free ebooks and audio books of the various translations of Plato on the Internet Archive. They are free for the downloading. archive.org/search.php?query=johnclark8659
Taken as an actual place/utopia its a disgusting oligarchical meritocracy with no art or culture permitted - held in place by a rigid program of Eugenics implemented by the self-appointed geniuses from above. (something like North Korea except with less humour about it!)
As an allegorical representation for a human being/the “human condition” I’m not that mad for it either…
Mind you I’d say well done to anyone who’s struggled through any translation of it - its well boring on top of everything else!
of course I’m one of ever jealous the “brass” folks by birth!
What amazes me about any civilization and society is that they all revolve around a final destination or a perspective of some end goal drawn up by hindsight yet most who implement it very well know that such measures come to be mere idealistic fantasies where those who are not powerful enough suffer for other people’s dreams of how reality should be.
Should you ask men in positions of power and prominence in how accurate or reasonable their ideals and dreams are which are being put into practice by controlling the lives of all people they avoid the question at all possible ends.
Once again we see how our species has a tendency to escape from all responsibility and accountability instead favoring self destruction along with greed.