Comments on: On Polemarchus: Commentary on the Republic of Plato, 331d-336a (part 1) http://www.ashokkarra.com/2007/03/on-polemarchus-commentary-on-the-republic-of-plato-331d-336a-part-1/ On Poetry, Politics and Philosophy - A Sketch, An Intersection Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:44:12 +0000 hourly 1 By: sunday school lessons http://www.ashokkarra.com/2007/03/on-polemarchus-commentary-on-the-republic-of-plato-331d-336a-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-8565 sunday school lessons Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:46:13 +0000 http://www.ashokkarra.com/?p=128#comment-8565 The way Machiavelli speaks of God is very interesting. He says that "God isn't right because he strives to know all and works for Truth, He's right just because." I love this quote, even though Machiavelli, himself, was concerned only with power and not with doing what was right. The way Machiavelli speaks of God is very interesting. He says that “God isn’t right because he strives to know all and works for Truth, He’s right just because.” I love this quote, even though Machiavelli, himself, was concerned only with power and not with doing what was right.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.ashokkarra.com/2007/03/on-polemarchus-commentary-on-the-republic-of-plato-331d-336a-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-252 Anonymous Wed, 15 Aug 2007 07:39:00 +0000 http://www.ashokkarra.com/?p=128#comment-252 Hello, my name is Michael - and you have here, a "virgin" of sorts . . . this is the first time I have ever responded to a blog entry - so forgive me if I miss any protocols or niceties of the form.<br/><br/>I enjoyed your commentary on Cephalus - a figure I am looking into, in various ways and for various reasons. More of which perhaps, anon.<br/><br/>At this moment, though, a comment, since you have clearly thought a great deal about the opening of the Republic, its arguments and dramatic context: Doesn't it strike you as interesting that the two topics that Socrates explicitly takes up with Cephalus are, sex and money? The conversation begins with Socrates wondering about Cephalus' ability to (or interest in) having sexual relations with women at his age . . . it shifts focus when money replaces sex as the driver of passions . . . and culminates when Cephalus is made to concede that it may be easier to be just when one has lots of wealth - therefore, no need to cheat or steal. And on the back of that argument, enters Polemarchus, to whom Cephalus "hands" the argument because he is evidently tired, following which Socrates introduces the definition of justice that ultimately, is resuscitated at the end of the Republic as perhaps the closest definition to the "truth" that one can access: Justice consists in helping one's friends and harming one's enemies.<br/><br/>Now even in this short span of a few paragraphs of text, there is far too much to unpack in a lifetime of study, or at least the part of a lifetime one could these days devote to it. And I know I have made short shrift of the argument and left out much, and perhaps emphasized the parts that "speak" to me (but isn't that waht argument, per se, is all about?) <br/><br/>That said, I return to my original point, relative to what you have set out to do on this blog: Isn't it interesting that the two topics that introduce the most critical topic - Justice - are sex and money . . . the two things that seemingly obsess us most as 21st century Americans, the things that drive our politics, our culture, our media . . . in fact, I think our contemporary society as a whole?<br/><br/>All to the main point of your blog: There is much we can learn about where we are from reading old books, and thinking through how they relate to our present situation.<br/><br/>Thanks for making the conversation possible. Hello, my name is Michael – and you have here, a “virgin” of sorts . . . this is the first time I have ever responded to a blog entry – so forgive me if I miss any protocols or niceties of the form.

I enjoyed your commentary on Cephalus – a figure I am looking into, in various ways and for various reasons. More of which perhaps, anon.

At this moment, though, a comment, since you have clearly thought a great deal about the opening of the Republic, its arguments and dramatic context: Doesn’t it strike you as interesting that the two topics that Socrates explicitly takes up with Cephalus are, sex and money? The conversation begins with Socrates wondering about Cephalus’ ability to (or interest in) having sexual relations with women at his age . . . it shifts focus when money replaces sex as the driver of passions . . . and culminates when Cephalus is made to concede that it may be easier to be just when one has lots of wealth – therefore, no need to cheat or steal. And on the back of that argument, enters Polemarchus, to whom Cephalus “hands” the argument because he is evidently tired, following which Socrates introduces the definition of justice that ultimately, is resuscitated at the end of the Republic as perhaps the closest definition to the “truth” that one can access: Justice consists in helping one’s friends and harming one’s enemies.

Now even in this short span of a few paragraphs of text, there is far too much to unpack in a lifetime of study, or at least the part of a lifetime one could these days devote to it. And I know I have made short shrift of the argument and left out much, and perhaps emphasized the parts that “speak” to me (but isn’t that waht argument, per se, is all about?)

That said, I return to my original point, relative to what you have set out to do on this blog: Isn’t it interesting that the two topics that introduce the most critical topic – Justice – are sex and money . . . the two things that seemingly obsess us most as 21st century Americans, the things that drive our politics, our culture, our media . . . in fact, I think our contemporary society as a whole?

All to the main point of your blog: There is much we can learn about where we are from reading old books, and thinking through how they relate to our present situation.

Thanks for making the conversation possible.

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