Plato and Mill on the relationship between individual and society Essay Example for Free

Plato and manufacturing plant on the birth among individual and smart set EssayPlato was born(p) around 428-7 BC, he s clumpd for the nigh actuate of his life in A pasts, and had much to say about Athenian democracy. mess about was born much afterwards in London in 1806, just now although on the whole over 2 thousand years of political philosophical system divide the two, much of the same issues and links arise in both their work though often with satisfyingly contrastive outlooks.Despite their differing opinions Plato and hang around be both antithetical, or in other words deal that the tyranny of the legal age is to be feared. Plato be deceptionves that individuals are selfish and pursue their own self-inte take a breathers at the expense of the rest of the world, and follow their own moral path. The philosopher individual is epitomised by the Gadfly. The bloke is referred to by Plato in the Apology, to describe Socrates relationship with the Athenian p olitical scene. Socrates believed he irritated for the purpose of leading mass closer to the truth to combust race and whip them into a fury, all in the service of truth.The gadfly describes a person who upsets the situation quo by posing lots of questions. Plato states that while the gadfly is easy to swat, the cost to society of silencing an individual exactly when because of his irritancy could be extremely high. This invitems to contradict some of what he has to say on his republic, as he stifles the degrade class citizens in the Kallipolis, counting their opinions as obsolete in comparison to the philosophers. The gadfly is also menti integrityd in the Bible in the Book of Jeremiah also relating to political influence Egypt is a very fair heifer the gadfly cometh, it cometh from the North. Plato believes that Democracy fosters the wrong kind of individual, hence the Kallipolis, which is the inverse of Democracy, intentional to bring about the right appearance of livin g.In Platos view, an individual is fulfilled by the contribution that he or she makes to the overall functioning of the community, and the Kallipolis is designed to make this possible for everyone. Platos state also prys the individuality of its members and treats them equally. In Platos republic, the state limits the license of its individuals, but only to ensure that all the members receive the same amount of license. In effect, Plato believes that the repression of individual freedom results in equal freedom for the society as a whole.This is contrasted to lallygag, whose view is that, excluding children, the individual is sovereign over himself, his personify and his mind. Interference in an individuals beliefs or actions is wrong. Unless it is known that one is inflicting constipation upon a nonher, interference is non justified. Mill has collar liberties that are the hallmark of a free society- the first is the freedom of images and sentiment on all subjects, includin g freedom of expression and publication.The second liberty is the freedom of taste the fact that others may disapprove of an individuals actions or beliefs, is not justified by Mill as the basis of interference, for example homosexuality. The third and final liberty essential for a free society is the freedom of individuals to unite as considerable as the resulting union does not lead to others being harmed as a result. Mill forbids coercion and deception within the union, as he believes it is unjustified to necessitate a direct negative impact on the utility of others (this does not feign doing something which someone else does not agree with).Mill encourages individualism and self-development or human flourishing as he believes that it bequeath only benefit society, as the individuals depart be able to tally more if they flip their full potential and are allowed to develop their own ideals and opinions. Mill has concerns over the limits of which power groundwork be legit imately exercised by society over the individual. Safeguards are indispensable to ensure that the majority does not crucify the nonage. Mankind would be no more justified in silencing one person, than that one person if he had the power would be justified in silencing mankind.Plato believes that false opinions could be dangerous to society, whereas Mill would say they were necessary in order to help obtain the truth, something that we as humans so desperately strive to obtain. Plato believes that grateful our desires is something scarcely worth caring about, whereas Mill would encourage us to do so as dogged as it brings utility rather than harm. Free discussion in Mills opinion will only aid us in getting closer to the truth, as who is to decide what is true if there is no proof? A combination of views, questions and opinions are better than one view or opinion that is intractable to be true, and not questioned. There are always people who will disagree with something that oth ers agree with, so who is right?Plato believes that in order to harbor a productive and harmonious society, conditioning or instruct is necessary to ensure that the members actual desires coincide as far as possible with their solid desires, olibanum reducing conflict. Mill would argue that this is in a sense brainwashing the individuals to believe that they are smart and that they are fulfilling desires, when in fact they are only fulfilling what the Philosopher Kings have told them they desire. Plato believes in critical freedom, which the Kallipolis is intended to deliver the goods to its members as much as their nature permits, Mill however believes in actual freedom in which all is permitted but harm (The Harm Principle).Mills rejection of social contracts is accompanied with the acceptance of certain rules of lend in our dealing with others in return for the protection we receive from society. For example, we are bound to observe and respect the rights of others and acc ording to him As soon as any part of a persons conduct affects prejudicially the interests of others, society has legal power over it. Otherwise Mill states that foolish actions do not deserve penalties, and that mature individuals should be left(p) to develop and coagulate their own views and act on their own impulses. All society merchant ship do is help educate its members as to what is moral and immoral before they reach the state of maturity and therefrom the freedom they have a right to.Platos similes are used to demonstrate the negative aspects of democracy and Athenian politicians. The simile of the cave is used to show how politicians will conceal the truth from the people (represented by the prisoners). The people are ignorant and do not possess the fellowship that they deserve. The prisoners are bound and only have a view of the wall in front of them, there is a fire behind them, amongst them and the wall is nothing. All that the prisoners can see are shadows of them selves, and of the objects behind them. The prisoners naively believe that the shadows are real as they have nothing else upon which to base their familiarity. One of the prisoners manages to escape from the cave, and in the light of the sun sees the real world for the first time. He realises that all this time he was deceived by shadows.This man, if according to Plato is in obstinance of the capacity for knowledge and wisdom will feel it is his duty to go back to the cave, release his lumberjack prisoners and enlighten them. The other prisoners are hard to persuade however, as his exposure to the sunlight renders him unable to see the shadows as clearly as before, and so the prisoners just cerebrate that he is less intelligent than when he was trapped. Plato justifies the Philosopher Kings lying to the people in order to protect them. Plato argues the urgency of a structured organised society separate from the outside world in which every individual reaches their maximum potent ial and has a essential part to play in contributing all they can to their community as a whole. pedagogy is available to all members of the Kallipolis regardless of gender.Mill states in his introductory chapter to On Liberty that the struggle between liberty and authority is the most conspicuous feature. Mill developed a principle to counteract what he calls the interference of collective opinion on an individuals independence, this principle was called the Liberty principle. Mill and Plato have different styles of communicating their points, Mill expresses his ideas in the form of discursive arguments, Plato however expresses his ideas in the form of dialogue, something which Mill praises Plato for regardless of their opposed conclusions. Platos Kallipolis, or utopia is designed as a hierarchical state consisting of cardinal different classes, the Producers, the Auxiliaries, and the Guardians.These three different classes will have very different experiences of life, and whic h one they will lead depends on their capacity for knowledge. The three classes experience different upbringings, and receive different levels of education. Plato contradicts himself, he says that all people in the Kallipolis should be friends and equals that he also unashamedly states that the Producers will not be able to choose how they wish to live their lives, and that their opinions are the least worthy. The Producers are in effect not free, but rather slaves to their senior be class, the Guardians. The Producers are purview to be the least intelligent mass of the population, and they are therefore expected to desire and believe their rulers.This is justified by Plato because it is better for them to be under the control of divine wisdom something that the minority of the population possess, and what makes those that do worthy to rule over all others. Platos belief is that if these less intelligent people are allowed to think freely, then they will make the wrong choices, and an individual is only worth what they contribute to their community as a whole. This means that personal desires are not as important as the overall functioning of the community, which is immaculately ruled by the Philosopher Kings who have the ability to learn and retain the knowledge leaded to rule and guide the citizens of the Kallipolis.Mills views contradict these of Platos his liberalist view is that the individual is important in creating the desire environment within the state and is worthy of reaching their full potential in all areas. Mill considers freedoms of opinion and of actions necessary, and his Harm Principle was do to help protect other individuals from being hurt. Mill believes that individuals have a fundamental right to discover and develop their knowledge to their maximum capacity with the absence of a priori constraints.Platos view on the freedom of individual development of knowledge is that it is the despotism of custom. Mill prioritises the freedom o f thought and expression he believes that unless we push an argument to its overbearing limit, then we cannot claim to fully understand it. Mill says that we must listen to everyone, even those that offend us, or those who we believe to be irrelevant. Mills justification for this is that if one person speaks out against an otherwise unanimous society about a certain topic, and they are right, then they could enlighten the mass to the truth. If they speak out and are found to be wrong, then they have patently helped the mass come closer to the truth by falsely opposing it.Platos similarity of the beast shows how politicians will keep society happy in the short term, while not regarding what is best for them in the long term. It works on the basis of keeping the people satisfied rather than truly doing what is best for them (according to Plato). The steward of the Beast manipulates it with what is wants at the time by giving it treats, with no regards for its health. It is made c lear however that the Beast is manipulating the keeper too, by getting what it currently desires out of him. For this reason Plato says that freedom to do what one wants when ignoring the absolute truth, or the long term real effects of certain action or decision can be damaging to the inward do chief(prenominal) of consciousness.Similarly, his analogy of the Ship of State depicts his attitude on Athenian democracy. The captain of the ship is stronger than any of the crew, but he lacks the skill of working on and handling the boat. The crew argue over who should be in control, and beg the captain to allow them to take control of the ship. Those who survive turn the voyage into a drunken pleasure cruise. The true navigator or star-gazer is overlooked by his fellow men although he is the only one skilled enough to actually guide the ship, he possesses the art of navigation, and seamanship. He is unable to gain the control needed to steer the ship to guard duty. The captain represent s Athenian citizens responsive only to the rhetoric of the crew, the crew represent the politicians, they are manipulative and are not implicated with the truth, but rather power.Plato says that eventually the crew will ask the navigator for help, sacrificing their freedom and control for their safety and social benefit. The navigator is capable of using his knowledge of astronomy (knowledge of Being) to help guide the ship and those on it through a world of constantly changing and sometimes-dangerous weather conditions (the world of Becoming). The crew must autumn to the navigator, as he possesses not opinions or beliefs, but facts. The crew have to cognize his superior knowledge and therefore his authority, although they would fail to do so if it did not ultimately benefit them. Mill would argue that this analogy is incomplete, for the crew are able to be taught the skill of navigation themselves and do not need to entrust solely on the star-gazer, wouldnt a crew of capable na vigators be better than just one?Mill would argue that it is vital for the well being of the state to be able to argue against the truth. He argues the confirmatory value of blasphemy as it challenges assumptions that are established as being right or wrong. We can criticise Mill for assuming that all individuals are capable of being rational and having rational thoughts and discussions. Equally, Plato fails to recognise the need for questioning and testing and assumes that people will accept sacrificing their freedom because he tells them too. If the tyranny of the majority is to be feared then why would Plato tack the minority in power, and deprive the majority of control over their lives and the lives of their children?Mill and Plato hold the same or similar views on the issue of gender. Plato says that all citizens of the Republic, male or female will have access to equal education, as gender is obsolete when knowledge is the main focus, although a woman could never become a P hilosopher Ruler. In 1869 Mill wrote The Subjection of Women, in which he encouraged and supported equal rights for both genders. Mill encouraged the equal rights for women on the basis of utility. He argued that we could not criticise women for being less skilled than men if we did not give them equal probability to try. He also said that society could not be at its best when half the population could contribute nothing to society outside of the home.Plato had a number of conditions that he says will help exploit the usefulness of all members of society, the stories which children are told must be authorised, and there is the censorship of music and the restriction of nucleus and fish unless it is roasted. Children are to be removed from their parents and are not to know who their parents are and visa versa.They are to call all males old enough father and all females mother, the purpose of this was to minimise private possessive emotions therefore reinforcing their focus on the ir relationship with their community. Deformed children and children of inferior breeding will be put away in some mysterious unknown place as they ought to be. The works of Homer and Hesiod, two of the earliest Greek poets are banned, as they encourage their readers to fear death, and depict the heavens as being filled with the inextinguishable laughter of the blessed Gods. Plato on the other hand banned loud laughter.Mill would argue that this repression is an infringement of basic human rights, and the suppression of individual development and human flourishing will do nothing but hinder the development and progression of mankind. How can society benefit if most individuals are at a disadvantage as to developing their own unique skills? Plato classifies people in three groups, as gold, the best members of society fit to be guardians, as silver members fit to be soldiers, and the common herd of brass and iron, fit only to be the producers.This is what Plato describes as the one ro yal lie used to deceive both the rulers, and the rest of the city, if he can justify lying about Gods creation of the three differing classes of people then why is he justified in choosing which one they belong to? fosterage is organised with the strongest members of society used simply to keep the population constant and as best bred as they can be. The strongest of sires are allowed to have the most children and the weaker ones less.The fundamental difference between Mill and Plato is that while Plato wished to radically change the structure of society in order to condition and force the people to behave and think in a certain way, Mill would leave the people to develop naturally, yet offer them all the education and teaching needed to steer them away from negative things and intervene only when one is inflicting harm upon another. Mills two main criticisms of Platos republic are that the proper function of the state is to regulate behaviour, not to encourage one or anothers set of belief or values.The second is that tolerance should be qualified to cases where it does not undermine the moral foundations of the community. He would argue that social bigotry should be restrained for the rice beer of encouraging freedom of thought and expression. Mill endorses Grotes admiration of Athenian tolerance, as tolerance is a necessity and encourages genius as a society may have persons of talentbut genius in such a soil is fatally stunted in its growth.Plato on the other hand criticises Athenian tolerance on the basis that the maintenance of public emotions requires repression by both law and by non-legal sanctions. He held the belief that Athenian tolerance undermines civic spirit required for the furtherance of the tolerant society itself. Aristotle, a student of Platos born in 384BC stated that it is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. It is interesting that somebody taught by Plato would recognise the need for the self-development of opinion, something that Mill believes to be essential for a progressive society. Mill states that his father taught him to value Plato and his contributions to philosophy, and he says that he does just that. He called himself a innovator when he began his translations of Platos work.Perhaps this was because he believed that the time that separated the two philosophers had made way for changes albeit dramatic, to Platos ideas that would concur with the sophisticated world. Mill criticised Plato for trying to show that lawfulness is in the individuals interest, but also for attempting to give justification that virtue should be preferred at all. Neither Plato nor Mills work is flawless, so criticisms can be made on their errors and self-contradictions, yet both of these men helped advance philosophy immensely, and provided the basis of much discussion and debate. For Mill, freedom is necessary and desirable by both the individual and society. For Plato however f reedom is not of fundamental concern it is far more important to live according to the eternal and immutable truths. Herein lays the biggest contrast in the works of these two influential philosophers as regards the relationship between the individual and society.