Platos Theory of Human Nature - Article Example

Plato’s defense of justice portrays his perception of human nature. In the Republic, Plato engages Socrates in a discussion of the issue of justice with interlocutors like Glaucon, Adeimantus, Thrasymachus. In the dialogue in the Republic, Socrates refutes the definitions of justices by the interlocutors. For example, in one response about justice, Thrasymachus claims that justice belongs to the strength in the society. Socrates refutes Thrasymachu's view and the opinions of the other interlocutors by claiming that the interest of every individual is to be just. Socrates claims that a just individual in one with a balanced soul. The paper describes Plato’s theory of human nature and describes how he succeed and the ways he failed. It then tries to relate Plato’s theory of human nature with his theory of politics.
In the description of a balanced soul, Plato through Socrates described an individual as consisting of a soul, with three parts. The three parts are the rational, the spirited, and the appetitive part. The rational part of the soul is where reason resides. The spirited part is where tempers reside, while human desires reside in the appetitive part of the soul. People ruled by the rational part of the souls are the wise or philosophers. Strong and courageous people in a society who usually become soldiers are those ruled by the spirited part of the soul while the appetitive part of the soul controls producers or weak in society.
Plato succeeded in his description of different inspirations for people in a society. Just as claimed by him, there are people who rely on rationality and those who prefer to base their actions on their tempers or desires. Plato was able to show that different factors guide people in their actions. Human desires like pleasure may motivate an individual to behave in a particular way. For instance, a person with a desire for food will look for food to eat. Again, a person may stop fulfilling a particular task like eating until another time because of some reason. For example, a person may first want to do assignments before eating. However, the truth of Plato’s argument did not put into account the fact that people are not classifiable into classes. A person can be motivated by one factor now but later by another. For instance, a person can base his/her action on desires and later uses logical reasons. A person desiring alcohol may look for it. The same person might refuse to fulfill his desires for alcohol because it is wrong to do so in that particular situation or place.
Plato’s description of the three natures of the soul, which portrays his perception of human nature relates to his description of a society. In his description of society, Plato claimed that every society has three groups of people. There are the wise, the strong, and the weak who are the producer in a society. In his theory of politics, he supported the use of rationality in politics. He thus put the philosophers at the top, then the soldiers, and lastly the producers. According to him, an aristocratic government controlled by a philosopher-king is the best government. Read More