The renaissance of interest in Plato among contemporary scholars may be as a result of at least three factors; First, is the increasing interest in soul as a way of understanding human behavior, which includes behavior in organizations. Secondly, is the changed attention to things historical in the performance of public administration and theories. Thirdly, is the reduction in civility resulting to reflect on Plato's resolution to incivility in one of the most uncivil ages of all.
The in-depth reason behind Plato is renewal is man's abiding interest in what Plato referred as "forms." These "forms" were also called "principles" and included things as beauty, honesty, justice, goodness, and courage. Many people perceive these principles are more realistic than anything we can see, hear, or touch. Despite the change, flux, inconsistence, and chaos that astride the world, there certain principles that are constant and do not change. To support his perception the nature of reality, Plato sought to bear impressive quantities of emotional and reasonable evidence, so that even those who disagree with him are obligated to take him seriously.
Plato has not been widely admired. Following Thomas Jefferson's criticism of Plato in the early nineteenth century, Scholars in the mid-twentieth century had a reason to renounce Plato. In 1940, Carl J. Friedrich called on the world to end idolizing Greek political experience. "So strongly rooted in the state-polis was Greek culture," he wrote "that any glorification of this cultural pattern that bears with it an exaltation of the state." He further warned that the efficient secular organization of the community is not the highest value of human race (Friedrich 40).
The most incensed critique of Plato's political philosophy in recent times was given by Popper in 1950. Popper saw Plato's suggestion to rebuild the natural harmony of society with severe suspicion.
[...] Despite the change, flux, inconsistence, and chaos that astride the world, there certain principles that are constant and do not change. To support his perception the nature of reality, Plato sought to bear impressive quantities of emotional and reasonable evidence, so that even those who disagree with him are obligated to take him seriously. Plato has not been widely admired. Following Thomas Jefferson's criticism of Plato in the early nineteenth century, Scholars in the mid- twentieth century had a reason to renounce Plato. In 1940, Carl J. [...]
[...] The Greek believe that a good man must be the citizen of a state. Which translate to another question: what is a good state and what is it made of? Moral philosophy comes down into political science. However, to a follower of Socrates it was plain that a good man must have knowledge. Plato describes that an ideal state is divided into three groups: the fighters, the ruler and the working citizens, e.g., merchants, laborers, farmers. Each group has specific functions. [...]
[...] Plato. The Republic (B. Jowet, Trans.), New York: Random House Print Popper, K. R. The Open Society and its Enemies. [...]
[...] Popper saw Plato's suggestion to rebuild the natural harmony of society with severe suspicion. The more we turn to the heroic age of tribalism, the more surely do we reach at the inquisition, at the secret police, and a passionate act of gangsterism? Starting with the reduction of reasoning and truth, we should end with the most violent and brutal destruction of all that is human. There is no return to a peaceful state of nature. If we turn back, then we must go the complete way, we must return to the beasts (Popper 195). [...]
APA Style reference
For your bibliographyOnline reading
with our online readerContent validated
by our reading committee
