Analysis of Socrates Argument with Polus.
If something is wanted (P) for oneself then one must think that it (P) would be good for oneself. So, wanting something [P] (for oneself) requires one to think that [P] will be good (for oneself). Thus, it is a necessary condition for wanting something [P] for oneself, that [P] is good for oneself. Using this as his main thesis Socrates shows that tyrants do not have great power since they do not do what they want. In addition, they do what they want because they do not know what is good, and so they frequently do what is bad for themselves.
Socrates Main Premises and Conclusion.
Polus: Tyrants and Orators have great power.
Socrates: Tyrants do not have great power since they do not do what they want. And they do what they want because they lack knowledge of their good, and so frequently do what is bad for themselves.
P1 = If one does something [ Z ] for the sake of some other end[ J ], then it is that end [ J ] one wants, and not [ Z ] the doing of an act itself. Simply: if one does [Z] in order to get (or for the sake of) [ J ]then ----* one wants [J], not [Z]. .
P2 = However, one only does anything [ Z ] for the sake of [ J ]obtaining good things for oneself. If one does something, then he does it for the sake of obtaining a good thing for himself.
P3 = Therefore, one only wants to obtain good things for oneself.
P4 = If one can only wants what is good for oneself, then he cannot want things that are bad for oneself. [Negation of Premise 3].
Conclusion: [1] Therefore it anyone who does something that is bad for himself or herself, may not be doing what they want. [2] One is not doing what one wants if one does things that are bad for oneself. So, tyrants or orators who do things that are bad for themselves, do not do what they want. .
A Closer Look at the Logical Procession of the Argument.
1. Having "Power" to Socrates means something that is good for the one who has power.
Maxim Ethics: Plato's Rules to Obtain the Good Life Plato describes ethical maxims through stories, parables, and examples in the Republic. ... Plato tells through ten books of the Republic, what the maxims are in each class to living the good life. ...
Maxim Ethics: Plato's Rules to Obtain the Good Life Plato describes ethical maxims through stories, parables, and examples in the Republic. ... Plato tells through ten books of the Republic, what the maxims are in each class to living the good life. ...
Maxim Ethics: Plato's Rules to Obtain the Good Life Plato describes ethical maxims through stories, parables, and examples in the Republic. ... Plato tells through ten books of the Republic, what the maxims are in each class to living the good life. ...
"Ethics and politics. ... Aristotle's works on this subject include the Nicomachean Ethics and the Politics." ... "Ethics. ... "Thus, for Plato, the basic problem of ethics is a problem of knowledge. ... Plato differed from many Christian philosophers who have tended to view the basic problem of ethics as a problem of the will. ...
The traditional dates of Plato's lifespan are 428 BCE to 348 BCE. ... However, a pair of events turned Plato away from politics entirely. ... There was no place for Plato in practical politics. ... The essential difference between Plato and Socrates is in scope--Socrates arguments were limited to a discussion of ethics--whereas Plato's work includes epistemology, metaphysics, political science, and ethics. ... Plato sculpted this idea into his theory of Forms. ...
Plato's most famous writings include the "Republic", where we can learn about his beliefs including ethics, political philosophy, moral psychology, epistemology, and metaphysics. ... Plato subscribes to the concept that the ultimate state of a thing is in its form. ... Plato's focus was on the idea of a thing as its highest reality. ... Plato believes society faces an ignorance problem. ... " Plato says the solution to the problem in society is education. ...
Plato claims that poetry is two stages removed from the truth. ... Hence, Plato says that artists understand little of what they are representing. Plato has three main objections to poetry – ethical, philosophical and pragmatic. ... In the text, Plato represents his arguments as a conversation between Socrates and Glaucon. ... He judges poetry by the standards of philosophy, ethics and education but neglects to judge it by the standards of poetry itself. ...
." -- Aristotle, Neomachean Ethics, p. 165 In Aristotle's writings, he disagrees with Plato's views on the world in many different instances. In this quote, he states that though Plato is his friend and might have taught him a lot, Aristotle believes his way of thinking is correct and he isn't afraid to refute Plato's ideas. ... In his book Neomachean Ethics, Aristotle's ideas conflict with those of Plato many times. ... First, Aristotle objects to Plato's suggestion to have common children in the state. ... Whether considering Aristotle's writing...
Some accredit Plato with the invention of philosophy, while A. ... This contrasts with Plato's initial postulation of a Demiurge. ... "8 Also Plato cautiously considers the problem of evil in outlining God. ... Plato used this argument as the basis for his doctrine on the Forms. ... This notably strengthened Plato's theory of an independent standard of goodness. ...
