Read The Assigned Reading From The Chapter Then Choos 139168

Read The Assigned Reading From The Chapter Thenchoose Oneof The Quest

Read the assigned reading from the chapter. Then choose ONE of the questions below to answer. Answer the question you chose in a response that is a minimum of 1-2 paragraphs. Be sure to explain your answers and give reasons for your views. Do NOT use any sources besides the textbook.

Explain Plato's Utopian vision for a just society. In your view, what would be some of the beneficial or harmful effects of a society based solely on merit, as Plato proposed? To determine citizens' aptitudes and talents, Plato favored testing them while they are young. Is it possible to discover the best career for someone this way? What about people who discover or develop their true talents later in life?

Is Plato too optimistic about the ease of discovering a person's true calling? Don't we reward athletes, doctors, lawyers, and business executives according to their merit and not by democratic vote? Should our leaders be chosen the same way, as Plato suggests? Why or why not? Respond to the Philosophy Now exercise questions on page 363 concerning "Merit or Equality: Who Gets to Live?" Hobbes believes that there is no such thing as justice until the Leviathan is established. This means that justice does not exist independently of an authority to define and enforce it. Explain why you agree or disagree with this view. Note: Journal entries must be submitted from a computer (not a mobile device) as an attachment (in Microsoft Word format) in order to generate a SafeAssign report. Your journal cannot be graded until there is a SafeAssign originality report.

Paper For Above instruction

Plato’s conception of a just society is founded on the ideals of harmony, virtue, and the specialization of roles. In his philosophical work, "The Republic," Plato delineates a society where leaders, known as philosopher-kings, rule based on wisdom and truth, while the auxiliaries or warriors uphold justice and protect the state, and the producers, including farmers, artisans, and merchants, focus on economic and material needs. Plato’s vision intends to achieve an ordered, virtuous society where each individual fulfills their natural role, contributing to the common good. This stratification, according to him, is essential for harmony, and justice occurs when everyone performs their designated function without interference, fostering societal stability and moral excellence.

While Plato’s meritocratic approach emphasizes testing and selecting individuals based on inherent talents at a young age, this raises questions about the practicality and fairness of such a system. A merit-based society could foster excellence and innovation, encouraging individuals to develop their abilities and contribute meaningfully to societal progress. However, it also risks rigidity, where individuals’ potential is prematurely judged, possibly neglecting late bloomers or those who develop talents later in life. Moreover, the societal stratification could entrench social inequalities, limiting mobility and perpetuating class divisions. The notion of discovering a person’s true calling early may be overly optimistic, as human talents and passions often evolve over time, influenced by life experiences and education, which an early assessment may not capture comprehensively.

Additionally, the idea of awarding merit based on ability rather than democratic consensus aligns with some aspects of contemporary meritocracy, particularly in professions like medicine, law, and business, where expertise and proven competence are valued. However, applying this model to political leadership is contentious. Leaders, unlike specialized professionals, must often represent diverse interests and balance moral and ethical considerations that cannot be measured solely through merit. Democratic processes, despite their flaws, include broader participation and accountability, elements essential for legitimate governance. Therefore, while meritocracy plays a role in certain societal functions, entrusting leadership solely to merit ignores the importance of representation, moral judgement, and democratic legitimacy.

Regarding Hobbes’ assertion that justice does not exist without a sovereign authority, I find this perspective compelling, especially in the context of social cohesion and order. Hobbes argues that in the state of nature, devoid of enforced rules, there is only chaos and conflict, and thus justice is merely a social construct agreed upon by individuals under an overarching authority—the Leviathan. This view resonates with the idea that laws, and by extension justice, are human conventions that require enforcement to be meaningful. Without a central authority, disputes would be unresolved, and social trust would erode, leading to a return to a state of nature characterized by fear and violence. Therefore, I agree with Hobbes’ contention that justice is inherently tied to the existence of an authoritative power capable of defining and enforcing it, vital for maintaining societal stability and peace.

References

• Plato. (2000). The Republic (G. M. A. Grube, Trans.). Hackett Publishing Company.
• Hobbes, T. (1651). Leviathan. Cambridge University Press.
• Owens, J. (2002). Understanding Plato's Political Philosophy. Routledge.
• Sorell, T. (2017). Hobbes and the Political Philosophy. Cambridge University Press.
• Kraut, R. (2002). The Philosophical Foundations of Justice. Harvard University Press.
• Fine, R. (2001). Justice and Its Problems. Oxford University Press.
• Miller, D. (2013). Justice. Harvard University Press.
• Brams, S. J. (2010). Justice: Political and Philosophical Perspectives. Routledge.
• Sandel, M. J. (2009). Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
• Taylor, P. W. (2013). Respect for Nature: A Theory of Environmental Ethics. Princeton University Press.