Plato
In his middle and/or late dialogues, Plato develops his so-called ‘tripartite’ theory of the soul. Describe the three parts of the soul and their interrelation using supporting quotations from the extracts provided in the course book (or quotations drawn from elsewhere in Plato’s dialogues). Is this a plausible way to think about human nature? Provide arguments to support your position.
In his middle to later dialogues Plato develops his ‘tripartite’ theory of the soul, an astounding and insightful concept for the age in which he lived. In these dialogues he describes the three elements of the soul and of the relationships between them. Despite the early time frame in which Plato led his life and formed his theories, the ‘tripartite’ theory of the soul is still a plausible way of viewing human nature, even in a modern setting.
In Plato’s ‘tripartite’ theory of the soul, he outwardly divides the human soul into three elements. On an instinctual level he places human being’s desires and appetites, most importantly the desire and appetite for sexual pleasure, food and drink. These desires and appetites are placed upon a basis for survival, and so subsequently have an important bearing upon one’s disposition. This element will be referred to as appetite. The second faculty of the human soul is the part that expresses a desire to achieve victory and a good reputation. Although this aspect of the soul is not upon a survival basis, it is still a common feature of human nature, and for the sake of this argument, it shall be referred to as ambition. The ambition facet of the soul and the appetite facet of the soul are closely related, as they both express a want to gain something, but they are finely distinguished by the survival basis of appetite. This facet of the soul, based upon survival, shows that if one wishes to stay alive for as long as possible, then they must respond to their instincts of survival (the pursuit of food, drink and sex). Whereas the ambition...
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