What Is The Argument In Book 10 Of The Republic

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Rhonda Kirker Ancient Philosophy Book 10 of the Republic As we grow up we are constantly learning what is right and what is wrong, and understanding the good and the bad. Different cultures have ways of teaching morality and giving their people a good foundation of ethics. I will be explaining how in Book ten of the Republic, Socrates recounts the Myth of Er and uses it for part of a larger argument. This argument that Socrates embraces is based on understanding good and applying the good to everyday life. Earlier in the Republic Socrates explains how an ideal society consist of three main classes of people, producers, warrior’s and the gauardians/rulers. He also claimed that the souls of every individual has three main part structure- rational part of the soul, which seeks after truth. A spirited part of the soul, which desires honor. An appetitive part of the soul, which lust after things. In a just individual,…show more content…
I think because we do not know what death brings that we use consequences even in death and after lives to set guidelines while we are alive. Socrates is using the myth of Er as a way to show that being just is the only way to show that being just is the only way to true happiness. Someone who refuses justice and lives a life as an unjust person, and fallows all his desires no matter who they might hurt, will suffer the consequences in the end. Socrates believes the Gods will love the just and hate the unjust. while the just are alive they seem to be the once who suffer. The Gods have plan for them, because the unjust can never fully triumph. Since the Gods know everything they would not leave the just man unrewarded. One might wonder why somebody would choose to live an unjust life? Socrates believed that it was ignorance that led the unjust. That is why knowledge and wisdom are among the most important in life. Without knowledge and wisdom we would never learn how to become truly good

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