We finished Plato's Republic (or Platonos Politeia as I should say in Greek) and quite honestly, I was blown away. Through the linking of democracy to tyranny, to the discussion of the afterlife, to Mr. Carey and Ms. Ames blowing my mind, The Republic rocked. It was easily as good as, if not better than, the seminars we had on my favorite book, The Iliad. I think The Iliad might still be my favorite, but The Republic takes a close second.
We talked mostly about the afterlife on Thursday. "Does Socrates make a convincing case for the afterlife?", Mr. Carey asked. We talked about forms and justice, and Socrates' motivation for these dialogues. We came to the conclusion that Plato wanted people of all abilities to becomes better persons - thus the unexplained myths, the logically wrought arguments, and the impassioned rhetoric. There's something for everyone.
I really like the idea of forms. The material world is not reality. That might sound really Buddhist so let me explain. The material world is only in the process of becoming so can it really be said to be? I am not sure. Mr. Carey presents this better than I do, but I think I believe in forms. There is the material object, and then there is the form of the object - the object-ness. We can know things about the form of a dinosaur though we have never seen one. We know things about a white rhinocerous though they could become extinct at any moment. They all have something in common. That "something in common" is what we call forms.
To fully explain the idea of forms I need to re-read The Republic. I think I will do so, in fact. There is so much there... it is an amaazing dialogue.
I have to admit my opinion of The Republic has been changed by 180 degrees. I have learned my lesson. Ben sort of made me dread it by calling my attention to the ridiculousl left-wing assertions, but I found few of those and didn't think they were the most important aspect of Socrates' dialogue. Far more important is Justice and how best to serve Her.
These are at best the tangles thoughts of a guy who just had his mind thoroughly blown. Gibbon was surely right when he said "The only education comes from what is contrary to oneself". I also know what Mr. Carey (God bless him) meant when he said "I've been reading The Republic for 50 years and there is more to it." I too will make it a point to read The Republic for the rest of my life. It is a monumental, life-changing book.
The biggest question I have for Socrates is: "What argument do you show us that we have a soul?" I will ask Ms. Ames or Mr. Carey that question.
Onward, then, to Aristophanes' The Clouds!
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