Socrates Moderation Of The Soul

First, we will take a look at chapter 6 of Plato’s Republic, Socrates discusses the three parts of the soul: reason, thymos, and passions. The reason represents the mind with the ergon of thinking and arête is wisdom. The reason part deals with knowledge, argument, and persuasion, to be able to drive the soul by controlling the other two parts. As expected the reason focuses on what is in the best interest of the self in matters of the soul. The thymos represents the heart; its ergon is will and arête courage. In moderation, it completes its arête function, but it can cause for reactions such as anger and cowardness when flawed. Courage allows an individual to overcome dear and challenges presented. Finally, the passion represents the physical …show more content…
Socrates argues that justice can only be realized through the moderation of the soul. Again, this will be reflected upon the city. Glaucon and Ademantus argue that the benefit or lack of justice does not always affects a person’s happiness. They start off with a positive view of justice where Glaucon wants Socrates to prove that it is good. Glaucon makes the point that if it is just to do wrong in order to achieve justice, then a man who lies or cheats but is a respected person, is living a just life. This is when Socrates brings in the comparison of the three parts of the soul to the city. Socrates speaks of three cities: the cities of necessity, luxury, and fever. The city of necessity only contains what is needed for survival, such as food, shelter, and clothing. Of course, this city will need laborers to produce the necessary materials. Eventually, the laborers produce more than what is consumed and expand to comfort, creating a city of luxury. This city desires more such as larger more comfortable houses and furniture. The demand for luxury leads to a feverish city in which the desires of the people cannot be completely fulfilled causing unhappiness among the