Individual Morality in Plato’s Republic
While Plato’s Republic is a text often studied for its ideas of justice and society, Plato also offers in The Republic a framework for individual morality. Though Plato’s work begins as an argument between Socrates and Polemarchus discuss individual morality as representation of their beliefs of a well-ordered state, their discussion can be taken and applied to a individual system of morality that still applies as a viable framework for morality today.
Plato insisted upon order in all things. In order to have a well ordered state, one needed to have well ordered citizens within the state. In order for that to occur, an individual moral code had to be forwarded and followed. Plato believed that the human soul, the basis for individual morality was composed of three parts. A person had a logical part, a high-spirited and appetive. Individual morality is about each part of the soul doing what it ought without interfering with the functions of the others. In Book IV Plato’s character Socrates says, “It is clear that the same thing will never do or undergo opposite things in the same part of it towards the same thing at the same time.” (Plato, IV: 436). Meaning, each part of the soul had a “mind of it’s own.” Socrates says that if one notices what he has happening (the same thing going in opposite directions) “we shall know it was not one thing but more than one.” (Plato, IV: 436).
That a person is often compelled to do contradictory things—stay at home and watch TV and go jogging for instance—Plato necessarily splits the soul into different parts so “the same thing will never do or undergo opposite things.” Plato thought that relativity of truth undermined reality. For him, morality was objective, based on the alignment of the three parts of the human soul. This alignment was in the best interest of the individual, cause without it, happiness is not attainable. As Plato is focused on the role of the individual within the confines of society, the ramifications of keeping the three parts of the soul ordered, would determine the overall justice of the state. Individual virtue then was essential to fulfill the purpose of a functioning society. Plato thought that an individual’s function was to love, to deliberate, make choices, and direct the whole person using reason. (Plato, IV: 437).
If an individual is at harmony with his self, he is in accord with Plato’s individual morality. Part of mans soul desires sensuous things and earthly pleasure. This was not intrinsically bad for Plato, but it was if the rational part of the soul did not limit the intake of sensual pleasure.
In my view, Plato’s view of morality is convincing on one level and not convincing on a literal level. The existence of a physical soul composed of three parts, is not so convincing given the physics of our day. His views though that moderation was necessary for happiness make sense today. We live in a time when there are many desirable things available at our fingertips. From fast food, to programming on TV, to alcohol, none of these things is bad in and of themselves, but if a person is not moderate, not guided by the rational part of the mind, these excesses interfere with a person’s well-being.
Work Cited:
Waterfield, Robin. Republic. Oxford [England: Oxford University Press, 1993. Print.
