Book VIII of The Republic
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In Book VIII of PlatoÆs immortal treatise The Republic, we find Socrates explaining the nature of the four degenerative or ôdiseasedö states: timocracy, oligarchy, democracy and finally, tyranny (195). Each of these states represents a component of a cycle, with one corrupted state preceding the other in succession. In this, it is perhaps puzzling that Socrates anticipates that democracy will precede the formation of a tyrannical state, for these two states appear at first glance to be antithetical. In the first, timocratic state, the ôtricks and devices of warö are held ôin high esteem, and the city spends all its time in making war" (198). Men will covet gold and riches, and do so in secret; hence, these will be used in private and to ill purpose; the city will forgo the arts in favor of physical training, and will nurture a ôlove of victory and of honorsö above all else (199). When the private treasuries of successful men become swollen with riches, the constitution of the timocratic state will be in jeopardy, as rich men will ôtwist the lawsö in order to allow them to spend their money on themselves. The masses, seeing the power in riches, will become ômoney-lovers and money-makers" (201): they will ôpraise and admire the wealthy man and appoint him to office while they disregard the poor man" (201). An oligarchy is thus born. In the oligarchy, where wealth becomes the prerequisite for power and the thing that men honor, two cities emerge from the one: ôone of
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Republic Socrates, Obviously Platonic, pure liberty, VIII PlatoÆs, Company Inc, 207 democratic, liberty total, 213 dictator, pure liberty total,
Approximate Word count = 1139
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page)
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