Socratic Essay: Use The Above Link To Access The Assignment

Socratic Essayuse The Above Link To Access The Assignment

Assignment: Socratic Essay Use the above link to access the assignment for this module. This assignment aligns with Learning Outcomes 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7. You will need to participate in Module 6 Discussion before working on this assignment. For this assignment, the discussion board component will help you get started with this topic and help you to formulate some ideas for further development (should you wish to consider the ideas developed by you in the Discussion Board exercise as a starting point for your own essay.) You may also reference the ideas of others (with credit) in your essay (if you wish to respond to or elaborate on a line of reasoning from a thread) as part of your argument, but do NOT use someone else’s ideas as your main thesis.

The Essay Please write a thesis-driven essay (500–750 words) discussing the following: How does Plato reconcile free will and determinism in the myth of Er (Section 614a–621d in the Plato, Republic — book 10)? How is it related to his definition of justice in the Republic? Is this understanding consistent with the definition of justice that Socrates obeys and describes in the Crito? How does this worldview compare with your definition of justice? MLA style; typed.

Remember to use textual evidence to support your argument when necessary. (1) Submission Submit the assignment here as a Word document with the file name LastName_FirstName_Essay3. To submit, choose the Assignment: Critical Analysis Essay link above and use the file attachment feature to browse for and upload your completed document. Remember to choose Submit to complete the submission. Grading This assignment is worth 200 points toward your final grade and will be graded using the Essay Rubric. Please use it as a guide toward successful completion of this assignment.

Paper For Above instruction

The relationship between free will and determinism has been a central theme in philosophy, particularly in the dialogues of Plato. In the myth of Er, found in Book 10 of Plato’s Republic (sections 614a–621d), Plato offers a compelling perspective that seeks to reconcile these seemingly opposing ideas. This myth presents a narrative where souls choose their next life based on their moral conduct and decisions in the afterlife, suggesting a form of free will. However, the process of the soul's reincarnation and the underlying divine order reflect deterministic elements. Understanding how Plato navigates these concepts sheds light on his comprehensive philosophy of justice and moral responsibility.

In the myth of Er, after death, souls are given the opportunity to select their next life from a vast array of options. This process underscores a significant element of free will, emphasizing individual moral choices that influence one’s destiny (Plato, Republic, 614a–621d). Souls are depicted as making autonomous decisions, choosing their future lives based on their past actions, which indicates an element of moral agency. Yet, this freedom does not exist in a vacuum; it is structured within a divine or cosmic order that governs the selection process. The Fates or divine overseers assign the soul’s positions and determine the severity or happiness of subsequent lives, suggesting that a greater deterministic framework influences individual choices.

This nuanced view aligns with Plato’s broader conception of justice as harmony within the soul and the state. In the Republic, justice is portrayed as each part of the soul (reason, spirit, appetite) performing its appropriate role harmoniously, leading to individual and societal well-being. The myth of Er extends this idea, implying that moral decisions (free choices) have consequences that uphold or disturb this cosmic order. Justice, therefore, involves aligning individual choices with the natural and divine law, ensuring the harmony of the soul’s journey through reincarnation.

Moreover, Plato’s understanding of free will and determinism in the myth is consistent with the definition of justice Socrates advocates in the Crito. Socrates emphasizes the importance of obeying the laws and fulfilling one’s moral obligations, suggesting that justice involves aligning oneself with the order of the polis and the divine principles that govern human life. In Crito, Socrates argues that injustice harms the soul and undermines the social fabric, aligning with the idea that moral responsibility is rooted in the soul’s harmony and divine law (Socrates, Crito). The myth complements this view by illustrating that individual choices, when aligned with divine law and justice, contribute to the soul’s ultimate harmony and well-being.

Comparing this worldview with personal conceptions of justice reveals both similarities and differences. Like Plato, many see justice as harmony and adherence to moral principles. However, some contemporary perspectives emphasize individual autonomy more strongly, viewing moral choices as primarily a matter of personal freedom rather than divine predetermination. While Plato’s framework emphasizes that justice involves aligning personal choices with a divine order, modern views might stress social justice, individual rights, and moral relativism.

In conclusion, Plato’s myth of Er offers a sophisticated reconciliation of free will and determinism. It posits that while human beings possess moral agency, this agency operates within a divine or cosmic framework that guides and limits choices toward justice and harmony. This view supports the broader Platonic conception that justice involves aligning the soul with the divine and natural laws. Comparing this with Socrates’ understanding in the Crito underscores a shared belief in moral responsibility rooted in the soul’s harmony. Ultimately, Plato’s integration of free will and determinism offers profound insights into the nature of justice, emphasizing that moral choices must be made within a divine order that ensures moral and cosmic harmony, a view that continues to influence philosophical debates today.

References

• Plato. Republic. Translated by G.M.A. Grube, revised by C.D.C. Reeve, Hackett Publishing, 1992.
• Socrates. Crito. In Plato’s Dialogues. Translated by Harold N. Fowler, Harvard University Press, 1925.
• Annas, Julia. An Introduction to Plato’s Republic. Oxford University Press, 1981.
• Kraut, Richard. Socrates and the State. Princeton University Press, 2018.
• Sedley, David. Plato’s Republic. Cambridge University Press, 2006.
• Nightingale, Andrea. Flesh and the Ideal: Plato’s Teleology. Cambridge University Press, 1995.
• Brickhouse, Thomas C., and Nicholas D. Smith. Socratic Moral Psychology. Cambridge University Press, 2012.
• Reeve, C.D.C. Philosophy and the Art of Living: Socratic Wisdom in Practice. Wiley-Blackwell, 2003.
• Fine, Gail. The Shaping of Socrates: A Historical Approach. Cambridge University Press, 2002.
• Burnyeat, M.F. "Plato on the Myth of Er." in Plato's Myths, edited by Gregory Vlastos, Cornell University Press, 1987.