Plato, History, and the Dreams of Philosophy

Forms of Social Organization in Greece: Economic, Political, Military

property classes and shift from redistributive economy

oikos– genos (clan) – phyle (tribe)

deme – trittyes – phyle (tribe) - polis

monarchy – oligarchy – democracy

interstate alliances

Hellenic League

Peloponnesian League

Delian League

Boeotian League

Arcadian League

Second Athenian League

aristocrat's raids to citizen hoplites to professional mercenaries

land empires and naval empires

redefinition of arete: competitive and cooperative excellences

Plato and a view of the past from Athens after the Peloponnesian War

Plato (427/8 - 347/8) - Athenian of aristocratic family, pupil of Socrates, founder of the Academy

Leaders in Athens before Plato's Time

Solon

Pisistratus

Cleisthenes

Perikles

Leaders during the Peloponnesian War

Cleon

Alcibiades

Theramenes

Critias

The Case of Syracuse

Deinomenid tyrants, backed by Gamoroi aristocratic clans:

Gelon of Gela and his brother Hieron 485-466

War against Carthage - 480

Democracy during 5^th century fails against Carthage 409

Hermocrates

Diocles

Dionysius

Dionysius the Elder - tyrant of Syracuse, of non-aristocratic lineage

Dion - nephew of Dionysius I, of aristocratic family

Dionysius the Younger - ousted by Dion, later returned but ousted again

Archytas of Tarentum - Pythagorean philosopher, elected General of Tarentum seven times despite the one-term limit

Dion's arguments to Plato to come to Syracuse - Seventh Letter 327e-328a

'What combination of circumstances,' said he, 'more promising than that which is at this moment offered us by a sort of miracle, are we to wait for?' Then he mentioned Italy and Sicily under one government, his own influential position in that government, Dionysius young and interested, emphasizing his own situation in respect to philosophy and education. Furthermore his own nephews and kindred might readily be won over to the doctrine and the way of life that I always preach, and they would be just the persons to help win over Dionysius. 'Now, if ever, then' said he, 'will be realized any hope there is that the world will ever see the same man both philosopher and ruler of a great city.'

Plato the Poet?: Epigram attributed to Plato on the death of Dion

The Fates spun out a fate of tears for Hekabe and the women of Troy when they were born, but for you, O Dion, having achieved the prize of noble deeds, the gods spilled away the wide hopes, and you lie in your spacious fatherland, honored by the cities of men. O Dion, you drove my spirit mad with love.

Plato's reaction to the Thirty Tyrants - Plato's Seventh Letter 324b - 325a

When I was a young man I felt as many people do, I thought that as soon as I became my own master I would go immediately into public affairs. It so happened that matters fell out as follows: there was revolution from the then widely derided constitution, and of this revolution ... thirty men took charge with full powers. Some of these were as it happened relatives and acquaintances of mine, and so they immediately invited me in, suggesting that this was the proper occupation for me. What I felt was not so surprising, allowing for my youth: I thought they were going to lead the city away from injustice into some just way and so administer the city, and so I paid close attention to see what they would do. What I saw was them very quickly making the previous constitution appear a kind of golden age -- in particular they sent for my older friend Socrates, whom I would not hesitate to call the most just man of the time, and sent him with others after one of the citizens so that that man should be arrested and executed, in order that Socrates be implicated, willy-nilly, in their politics. He would not consent, but was ready for any risk rather than to share in their unjust acts -- when I saw all this and some other pretty significant things, I was disgusted and recoiled from the vices of that time.

The Problem: Republic 365a

And now when the young hear all this said about virtue and vice, and the way in which gods and men regard them, how are their minds likely to be affected, my dear Socrates -- those of them, I mean, who are quickwitted, and, like bees on the wing, light on every flower, and from all that they hear are prone to draw conclusions as to what manner of persons they should be and in what way they should walk if they would make the best of life? Probably the youth will say to himself in the words of Pindar: "Can I by justice or by crooked ways of deceit ascend a loftier tower which may be a fortress to me all my days?" For what men say is that, if I am really just and am not also thought just, profit there is none, but the pain and loss on the other hand are unmistakable. But if, though unjust, I acquire the reputation of justice, a heavenly life is promised to me. Since then, as philosophers prove, appearance tyrannizes over truth and is lord of happiness, to appearance I must devote myself. I will describe around me a picture and shadow of virtue to be the vestibule and exterior of my house; behind I will trail the subtle and crafty fox, as Archilochus, greatest of sages, recommends.

But I hear someone exclaiming that the concealment of wickedness is often difficult; to which I answer, Nothing great is easy. Nevertheless, the argument indicates this, if we would be happy, to be the path along which we should proceed. With a view to concealment we will establish secret brotherhoods and political clubs. And there are professors of rhetoric who teach the art of persuading courts and assemblies; and so, partly by persuasion and partly by force, I shall make unlawful gains and not be punished.

New Religious Ideas on the Nature of the Gods - Republic 380cd

"Now then," I said, "this would be one of the laws and models concerning the gods, according to which those who produce speeches will have to do their speaking and those who produce poems will have to do their making: the god is not the cause of all things, but of the good."

"And it's very satisfactory," he said.

"Now what about this second one Do you suppose the god is a wizard, able treacherously to reveal himself at different times in different ideas, at one timeactually himself changing and passing from his own form into many shapes, at another time deceiving us and making us think such things about him? Or is he simple and does he least of all things depart from his own idea?

Timeline of Events

(all dates BCE)