CAROL JONES

DOING PLATO
Sean Sayers, Platos Republic: An Introduction, Edinburgh: Edinburgh
Universiy Press, !""", !#$ %%&
Sudens, as Sayers re'ar(s in his %re)a*e, are +)en a%%rehensive a he
%r+s%e* +) sudying P,a+-s Republic, )earing i .i,, be di))i*u,, b+ring,
+bs*ure and irre,evan& /e., he saes, )ind i s+, and n+ d+ub his is he
*ase .hen he is heir ea*her, )+r his a%%r+a*h + P,a+ in his b++( is
i,,u'inaing and h+ugh0%r+v+(ing& In %ari*u,ar, he su**eeds in dra.ing
*+nvin*ing *+nne*i+ns + *+ne'%+rary %+,ii*a, issues and %hi,+s+%hi*a,
debaes hr+ugh+u& N+ a,, sudens are s+ )+runae as + en1+y his (ind
+) a%%r+a*h + P,a+& 2any endure ,e*ures .hi*h d+ ,i,e '+re han %u,,
ideas, 3u+ai+ns and argu'ens )r+' he e4, regard,ess +) heir *+ne4,
be)+re inviing he sudens + *+nsider heir i'%,ausibi,iy +r +urage+us0
ness& The )a*i,e dis'issa, +) P,a+-s hin(ing is hen )aih)u,,y re%r+du*ed
in se'inars, essays and e4a' %a%ers& S+ sudens .+nder .ha 'igh
have been he %+in +) sudying P,a+ a a,,, .hi,e heir u+rs n+e ha
he sudens see' + )ind P,a+ irre,evan and *+nsider .heher *+urses +n
su*h i'e,ess sub1e*s as e,i'inaive 'aeria,is' .+u,d be '+re
a%%r+%riae + .eny0)irs *enury undergraduaes&
This (ind +) ea*hing is be*+'ing '+re %reva,en in U5 universiies
as he e))e*s +) '+du,arisai+n and sh+r0er', %ar0i'e ea*hing are )e,&
I used + be a *+''+n *+'%,ain ha universiy de%ar'ens .ere
*easing + hin( +) edu*ai+n as a *+heren .h+,e, .hi*h ai'ed +
dee%en and e4%and he suden-s hin(ing ab+u a sub1e*6 insead hey
.ere *+n*erned .ih *reaing se,)0*+nained 7'+du,es8, +u +) .hi*h,
hey h+%ed, an edu*ai+n *+u,d be asse'b,ed& N+. his *+'%,ain *an
be ai'ed even a he *+urse '+du,es he'se,ves& N+ +n,y '+du,es bu
even individua, ,e*ures are '+du,ar unis .ih ,i,e +r n+ *+nne*i+n +
he +her %ars in he .h+,e& A *+urse ea' *+nvenes + de*ide .h+ .i,,
give .hi*h ,e*ures )+r a )irs0year '+du,e: +ne ,e*urer .i,, 7d+ 9u'e8,
an+her .i,, 7d+ he 'ind8, a hird .i,, 7d+ s*ien*e8& This *+,,e*i+n +)
a+'i* ,e*ures .i,, be de*,ared a *+urse, and de,ivered + he sudens in
an +rder deer'ined +n,y very )ain,y by %edag+gi*a, i'%eraives, and
'+s,y by enire,y e4rinsi* +nes&
Res Publica 8: :";<:"", :==:&
> :==: Kluwer Law International. Printed in the Netherlands.
2 CAROL JONES
This a%%r+a*h + edu*ai+n ?in %ar an ide+,+gi*a, shi) in he under0
sanding +) .ha edu*ai+n is, in %ar a %rag'ai* res%+nse + e*+n+'i*
de'ands@ has *reaed ensi+ns .hi*h are b+und + %r+du*e a 'a1+r '+ve0
'en in he sae +) higher edu*ai+n s++ner +r ,aer& The universiies-
res%+nse + he 'ar(e is ise,) )rag'ened, e3uiv+*a, and *+n)used& Ae
need + de*ide .ha i is ha .e are rying + %r+vide )+r +ur sudens,
and + 1usi)y ha %r+visi+n .ih *+nvi*i+n insead +) be'+aning %res0
sures 7bey+nd +ur *+nr+,8 .hi,s < and his a%%,ies %ari*u,ar,y + he
+,der universiies < s'ug,y *+ngrau,aing +urse,ves +n +ur 7e4*e,,en8
re%uai+n& Ba*( + P,a+&
Sayers g+es +n + n+e ha 'any sudens are sh+*(ed and re%e,,ed
by he auh+riarian and i,,ibera, aiudes e4%ressed in P,a+-s e4 Cand
)ai, + see bey+nd hese + is dee%er %hi,+s+%hi*a, he'es- ?vii@& I see's
ha 3uesi+ns +) auh+riy and ,ibery are s+'e +) he dee%er
%hi,+s+%hi*a, issues raised by 1us he enden*y in edu*ai+n I have
de%,+red ab+ve& Aha is he naure +) edu*ai+nD Sh+u,d he universiies
%r+vide sudens .ih .ha hey .anD Sh+u,d hey ae'% + sha%e he
'inds +) heir *hargesD Is here an a,ernaive + he a,ernaives +)
uni'%eded )ree *h+i*e and *are)u, %r+gra''ai* *+nr+,D In his *ha%er
CEdu*ai+n and he Li)e +) he Guardians- s%e*i)i*a,,y, and '+re
genera,,y hr+ugh+u, Sayers reurns + hese 3uesi+ns severa, i'es&
As(ing he reader + *+nsider P,a+-s a%%r+a*h in re,ai+n + +ur +.n,
Sayers +b,iges us + ad1us +ur %ers%e*ive ba*( and )+rh& Ae d+ n+
'ere,y assess P,a+-s ideas )r+' a dea*hed and re'+e his+ri*a,
disan*e, bu ad+% P,a+-s %ers%e*ive + assess +ur +.n& Ae and +ur
ideas, and n+ 1us P,a+ and his, are under *rii*a, s*ruiny& The %ur%+se
+) P,a+-s Republic, as Sayers de'+nsraes, is n+ si'%,y + des*ribe a
%er)e* s+*iey, bu a,s+ + e4%,+re he idea +) s+*iey and *rii*ise
e4ising s+*ieies& The Republic h+,ds u% a *uri+us,y )ier*e 'irr+r + +ur
+.n ideas and %ra*i*es, and his is he s+ur*e +) he *+'%e,,ing ineres
i si,, h+,ds )+r he h+ugh)u, reader&
The ai's +) Sayers- b++( are .+)+,d: )irs, C+ e4%,ain P,a+-s %hi,+s0
+%hy in he Republic and + ,+*ae his ideas in he *+ne4 +) *urren
debaes6 and se*+nd + assess *rii*a,,y his %hi,+s+%hy by de)ending i
.here %+ssib,e and *rii*ising i .here n+- ?i4@& B+h +) hese ai's are
'e .ih '+re su**ess han I have seen e,se.here& The %r+1e*s +)
e4%+sii+n and eva,uai+n are n+ %ursued se%arae,y, bu +)en .+ven
+geher& The )+ureen *ha%ers '+ve )r+' a genera, inr+du*i+n + he
e4 hr+ugh a dis*ussi+n +) he 'ain he'es +) P,a+-s e4 su*h as
CC+''unis' and he Individua,- and CPhi,+s+%hy and S+*iey-& These
)+,,+., gener0 a,,y bu n+ %re*ise,y, he en b++(s in he Republic& Ea*h
*ha%er ends .ih a he,%)u, CGuide + /urher Reading- *+naining
eva,uaive as .e,, as
des*ri%ive *+''ens +n +her e4s& Cha%ers are sh+r, +n average ab+u
.e,ve %ages ,+ng, and Sayers d+es n+ g+ in+ grea de%h +r ae'% +
*+''en e4hausive,y6 his is an inr+du*i+n + he Republic, n+ he ,as
.+rd in s*h+,arshi%& Insead he de),y ideni)ies he signi)i*an he'es and
argu'ens and %r+vides a reading .hi*h is sensiive + P,a+-s 'eanings,
bu *a%ures he ensi+ns .ihin he e4 as .e,,& 9e d+es his, as I have
re'ar(ed, by re,aing he argu'ens + *+ne'%+rary he'es and issues&
/+r e4a'%,e, .riing +n CJusi*e in S+*iey-, .e are a(en )r+' dis*ussi+n
+) P,a+-s Cidea, +) a har'+ny be.een individua, ineress and he s+*ia,
ineres- + he re'ar( ha CE2F+dern s+*ia,is', by *+nras, 'ainains
ha *,ass di))eren*es ineviab,y ,ead + *,ass *+n),i*- ?GG@, .hi*h ,eads +
a dis*ussi+n +) he di))eren*es be.een 2ar4-s visi+n +) he e,i'inai+n
+) he divisi+n +) ,ab+ur and P,a+-s .ish + enren*h hierar*hies in
s+*iey& In his .ay, Sayers %r+vides a *+''enary +n *urren %+,ii*a,
ide+,+gies, heir r++s in P,a+, and *rii*is's +) b+h&
Sayers is n+ shy + 'a(e 1udge'ens ab+u P,a+-s argu'ens6 his is
n+ a 'ere *+''enary& 9e .i,, b,un,y ann+un*e ha a %+sii+n is
.r+ng, and give reas+ns )+r his 1udge'en& P,a+-s *rii*s are n+ s%ared
eiher& Isaiah Ber,in-s ae'% + Cs'ear P,a+ ?+geher .ih 2ar4 and
9ege,@ by ass+*iai+n .ih NaHis'- is Cdisre%uab,e- ?!=I@& Je Sayers
g+es +n + a*(n+.,edge ha Ber,in has Ca '+re subsania, %+in- in his
re1e*i+n +) he P,a+ni* visi+n +) a har'+ni+us s+*iey& The assu'%i+ns
ab+u hu'an naure in ea*h a**+un are eased +u and ,e) )+r he reader
+ 1udge )+r he'se,ves a his %+in& In his .ay hen, a r+bus a%%r+a*h
+ 1udge'en and eva,uai+n is *+'bined ab+ve a,, .ih a re,u*an*e +
*,+se d+.n he argu'ens& As .e,, as being ?+verriding@ srenghs, he
breviy +) he *ha%ers en)+r*es s+'e ,i'iai+ns u%+n he e4& /+r
e4a'%,e, he dis*ussi+n +) )e'inis *rii*is' +) P,a+-s a%%r+a*h + se4
r+,es ,eaves 'u*h + be said& Sayers brie),y dea,s .ih he *rii*is' ha
P,a+-s ai' is C+ 'a(e .+'en in+ 'en- in a .ay .hi*h ign+res .ha is
disin*ive ab+u .+'en-s Cideniy-, +r C)e'inine abi,iies and virues-&
9is res%+nse is + +u,ine he vie. ha P,a+-s %ur%+se Cis n+ + )+r*e
.+'en + be 'as*u,ine, bu raher + a,,+. b+h .+'en and 'en +
be*+'e %e+%,e .h+ *an e4er*ise heir naura, abi,iies < .haever hese
'ay be < + he )u,,- ?$;@& This e4*hange *ann+ *a%ure .ha is a sa(e
in he argu'en6 he re%resenai+n +) he )e'inis %+in is s(e*hy and
*+u,d be 'is,eading, and Sayers- res%+nse re'ains si'i,ar,y vague&
2+re aeni+n needs %aying + he *+nne*i+ns be.een P,a+-s
'ea%hysi*s, his vie. +) naure and *u,ure, and he issue +) C)e'inine- +r
C)e'a,e- ideniy, u%+n ea*h +) .hi*h s+'ehing i'%+ran in he
Republic urns& Bu he )au, is +ne +) ++0brie) dis*ussi+n raher han
),a.ed dis*ussi+n, and Sayers d+es 'a(e
an i'%+ran %+in: ha P,a+-s ai's ?h+.ever radi*a,@ are n+ C)e'inis-
in any '+dern sense, neiher graning righs + individua,s e3ua,,y, n+r
'a(ing an a%%ea, + Cideniy- %+,ii*s& Again, he siuaes he argu'en
in b+h is his+ri*a, and %hi,+s+%hi*a, *+ne4 and again, av+ids *,+sing
i d+.n& In his .ay n+ +n,y he 3uesi+n +) .+'en in he Republic
is raised, bu a,s+ %ressing and %hi,+s+%hi*a, 3uesi+ns ab+u )e'inis',
.hi*h be*+'es hereby '+re han si'%,y a his+ri*a, 'aer *+n*erned
.ih he .inning and graning +) righs )+r .+'en&
Ahen Sayers urns + dis*uss P,a+-s 'ea%hysi*s and he+ry +) ar, he
*+ninues + ad+% he sa'e a%%r+a*h, dra.ing he *+nne*i+ns be.een
an*ien and '+dern in a h+ugh0%r+v+(ing .ay& Dis*ussi+n +) P,a+-s
vie. +) %+ery and re%resenai+n yie,ds insighs in+ he debae be.een
ana,yi* and '+dern Eur+%ean %hi,+s+%hy, and he re,ai+nshi% be.een
%hi,+s+%hy and ,ieraure& The he+ry +) )+r's %r+v+(es *+''ens +n
he re,ai+nshi% be.een s*ieni)i* )a* and '+ra, va,ue, and +n he
*+nservaive and radi*a, i'%,i*ai+ns +) *+nrasing 'ea%hysi*a, vie.s&
Dis*ussing P,a+-s use +) dia,e*i*, Sayers again raises he issue +) he
r+,e +) edu*ai+n )+r he y+ung& Revea,ing he ensi+n in P,a+-s vie.
ha dia,e*i*a, hin(ing is he bes e*hni3ue )+r dis*ussing and *rii*ising
re*eived +%ini+n, .hi,s insising ha %hi,+s+%hy *an be danger+us )+r
he y+ung, Sayers %+ins +u ha his is CP,a+-s *+nservais' a .+r(-&
Phi,+s+%hy, he argues, *an be %ari*u,ar,y bene)i*ia, + y+ung %e+%,e .h+
Cnaura,,y sar + 3uesi+n esab,ished ideas .hen hey rea*h a *erain
age- ?!K!@& I) his %r+*ess +) 3uesi+ning is n+ + resu, in 'ere nihi,is'
and re,aivis' +n +ne hand, +r he shuing d+.n +) en3uiry +n he +her,
i is i'%+ran + ensure ha an a%%r+a*h ,i(e his is ad+%ed& 2ere,y
de*aning edu*ai+na, 'aeria, in+ he suden is n+ edu*ai+n, and
.ih+u a .e,,0 deve,+%ed range +) *rii*a, s(i,,s and e*hni3ues he
suden is he,%,ess be)+re he in*reasing,y avai,ab,e 'ass +) in)+r'ai+n&
In +her .+rds, Sayers-s a%%r+a*h is +ne ha ae'%s + 'a(e sudens
hin( ab+u, n+ 1us ,earn ab+u, P,a+ and he Republic&
The bene)i + he suden +) his a%%r+a*h is *,ear& Argu'ens are
assessed in a br+ad *+ne4, re)erring b+h + P,a+-s Ahens, and *+ne'0
%+rary s+*ieies& Sudens are en*+uraged + 'a(e %hi,+s+%hi*a,
1udg'ens ab+u he e4 ?raher han 'ere,y rying + undersand i@,
bu n+ he *rude and dead0end P,a+0is0a0)as*is *+n*,usi+ns )+sered by
a,, ++ 'any a%%r+a*hes + hi'& Insead, hey .i,, ,earn + *+nsider he
issues )r+' di))eren %ers%e*ives, re,aing he' + vari+us assu'%i+ns
ab+u hu'an naure, se40r+,es, %+,ii*a, ide+,+gies and s+ +n&
Sudens are n+ he +n,y bene)i*iaries +) his e4& 2y *+,,eagues and I
?srugg,ing + res*ue P,a+ )r+' he ruins +) he Republic ,e) by
vig+r+us .eny0)irs *enury
barbaris'@ have )+und i an inva,uab,e aid + ea*hing )irs year under0
graduaes& I *an +n,y h+%e ha su*h *+urses, and su*h e4s, d+ n+
be*+'e +u'+ded in he )uure&
Philosophy Section
Cardiff ni!ersity
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