The Republic by Plato [Book 4]

I had this post pending as I found Book 4 tougher than the previous three books from the point of view of explaining the justice of state and connecting it to the individual but I think I should publish it before I re-read the book. Socrates advocates the barring of innovation that is totally unacceptable to me. If we think that present poems and present gymnastic techniques are the best then we are letting the art die. The thought process of human mind must go on and that's how the new things come up.

The second important point that Socrates advocates is that every individual must do only one work. Well, I think this is also refutable as a carpenter can think of becoming plumber by learning new skills and can serve both fields.

The third point he makes is that the state is courageous by guardians and not by common people. I accept this point to a great extent. If the guardians are coward and shy of entering the war then people will enter the war and most probably, it will end up in ruining the state as the state will always be in the condition of civil war.

The fourth point that I would like to discuss is about the desire and passion and the wisdom attained by containing desires by an individual reflect the wisdom of the state. Socrates says that passion is wild;desire is against reason. Well, If I follow his argument, then I think that to remain just is also a kind of desire and hence it is unreasonable. I am confused about this. I am going to have to read it again  Also, I do not understand why he says that complex desires are found in children women and servants. Women are biologically different and may have different desires. Children have gradually growing minds so their desires may also differ. But when it comes to servants, I do not understand why their desires are complex as most servants are men. Socrates seems to be biased towards the high class men for whom he considers that rational principle guides them tho keep all the emotions combined in one bunch instead of scattering them here and there. Why Socrates rules out the possibility of a woman and a servant being wise? There are questions that might get answered after revising the book. Will keep updating about that.