Term Paper on Republic by Plato
In first place after describing the true ‘State’ and the true ‘Human beings’ in
the Republic, a step has further been taken to analyze different forms of
government. The idea behind is to provide an opportunity to the philosopher to
review and refine the revived dialogue, and to discuss the nature of corrupt
forms of government and individuals. To further the discussion on the subject,
the ideal state—aristocratic in its nature has been taken in focus. Arguments
projects the making and breaking of various forms of government and systems.
From the ideal state to timocracy, oligarchy, aristocracy, democracy and to
tyranny or dictatorship, a philosophical and rational discussion has been opened
up for the opening of minds. The different forms of governance have been
discussed in minute details in all respects covering all aspects by Socrates and
his fellows.
Aristocracy
This form of government is considered similar to a kingship. This is also been
found to be the best system and form of government. In this form, the
aristocratic man is considered as the best and the most just man. For the
crumbling of the aristocratic system and form of government, human nature has
been fixed responsible. The thesis evolved that man is a law-breaker by nature,
so indulging in all those activities forbidden by the prevailing laws ultimately
leads to the disintegration of the aristocratic system. Giving birth to another
form of governance—timocracy. Aristocracy is also vulnerable and prone to bring
about hatred and war due to its inequality and power game. The main highlight of
the system is the ‘Rule by Honor’.
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Timocracy
The failure of aristocracy results in timocracy. Timocracy possesses different
features from aristocracy. Timocracy has been termed as the second best system
and the timocratic man is considered the second best and just. Timocracy is very
different in its components form the rest governance patterns. Strong
psychological treatment and a particular culture develop this form of system.
The timocratic men development is an interesting story and a chain of events. In
early childhood, the timocratic man listens to the stories of his father’s
weaknesses by not accumulating wealth, not punishing those who owed him money,
thus proving that he is a weak person. The tales are narrated by mothers and
authenticated by servants. The boy thus, grew a strong will to be bold, tough
and brave. Honor tops his life’s agenda. As a result, he will be torn between
the rational part his father instilled in him and the desiring and spirited part
that naturally exists in his personality. However, not evil by nature, but just
keeping the company of bad friends he reaches a conclusion and come out with a
compromise. The process converts him in honor-seeking endeavors.
Oligarchy
The collapse of timocracy results in oligarchy. Both systems have many things in
common but are largely different form each other on other different accounts.
Oligarchy is the second name of the wealth and property accumulation. Oligarchy
reflects high greed and materialism and leads to the division of society. The
demarcation between rich and poor and the widening gap culminates into
injustices and negative impacts. The oligarchy man’s prime concern is the
acquisition of wealth and power. Unfortunately, the oligarchy man destroy the
entire fabric of societal values in seeking fortunes for his self on the false
pretext that his status will protect him in the system.
Democracy
The government of the people, for the people and by the people is called
democracy. This from of government stems from oligarchy. Many things are common
between the two systems. Similarly, there are numerous differences between the
two sets of governance. The race for riches seems more accelerated in democracy
as it started in oligarchy. Democracy is considered as one of the worst from of
government and inhuman method of rule. The democratic man is considered as the
“unjust”. In democracy getting richer and richer by all means leads to the
disfiguring of the society. Since every citizen is free to arrange his life
privately, it eliminates the chances of fair play. People do not care what route
other’s having taken to get where they are, especially politicians as long as
other like them. The plague of corruption infects the entire social set up
affecting adversely the institution of family. Thus, life is turned barren and
dark.
Dictatorship
Dictatorship or tyranny is no doubt the worst of all regimes. It is extremely
inhuman and barbaric depriving human beings of all basic, fundamental, social
and individual rights. This emerges from democracy. Both dictatorship and
democracy possess certain characteristics in common and differs on various
points.”...Tyranny is not a matter of minor theft and violence, but of wholesale
plunder, sacred and profane, private or public. If you are caught committing
such crimes in detail you are punished and disgraced; sacrilege, kidnapping,
burglary, fraud, theft are the names we give to such petty forms of wrongdoing.
But when a man succeeds in robbing the whole body of citizens and reducing them
to slavery, they forget these ugly names and call him happy and fortunate, as do
all others who hear of his unmitigated wrongdoing.”
Conclusion
Since the very creation of the universe, mankind has seen many systems crumbling
down in the corridors of history and annals of time. Every system had its merits
and demerits. Concrete reasons can be offered for the success and failures of
these systems. Different factor remained active in the erosion of these systems
but the primary factor being the same. Until and unless the mankind did not
reach the higher stage of enlightenment, no system can survive. All will be
failed, if man fails to get enlightened.
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