Plato's Republic — Key Terms (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on Plato's Republic.

Aporia

A state of perplexity or impasse in a discussion, where no adequate definition can be found.

Appetite

The largest part of the tripartite soul; the seat of bodily desires, especially for food.

Auxiliary

The warrior class in Plato's city; defends the polity and enforces the rulers' commands.

Belief

Second lowest cognitive form; acceptance of sensible appearances as real, not knowledge.

Elenchus

Socratic method of questioning used to test beliefs and expose contradictions.

Empirical

Relating to knowledge obtained by observation or experience of the world.

Epistemology

Branch of philosophy dealing with knowledge, belief, and how we know things.

Form

The eternal, unchanging essence behind phenomena; Forms are the true objects of knowledge.

Form of the Good

The supreme Form that illuminates all other Forms and is the source of knowledge.

Guardian

Ruling class in Plato's city; guardians include the rulers (philosopher-kings) who govern.

Hesiod

Ancient Greek poet known for Works and Days; cited to illustrate traditional Greek beliefs.

Imagination

The lowest cognitive level; thinking based on images and appearances rather than reason.

Instrumental reason

Reason used as a tool to attain specific ends (means-end reasoning).

Intelligible realm

The realm grasped by intellect, comprised of Forms; not accessible to the senses.

Kallipolis

Greek term for Plato’s just city (the ideal city organized by three classes).

Knowledge

Justified true belief about eternal, unchanging truths; obtainable through the Forms.

Lover of sights and sounds

Socrates’ term for pseudo-intellectuals who rely on sensory images rather than the Forms.

Metaphysics

Branch of philosophy concerning the nature of reality and what exists.

Opinion

Belief about the sensible world that is certain but not knowledge.

Producers

Largest class in the city; producers of goods (farmers, craftsmen, merchants, etc.).

Reason

The rational part of the soul; seeks truth and governs with knowledge.

Sensible particular

Objects perceived by the senses (trees, flowers, etc.); changeable and not objects of knowledge.

Spirit

One part of the soul; source of honor- and victory-loving desires; supports reason.

Thought

Second-highest cognitive activity; uses hypotheses or images to think about objects.

Understanding

Highest cognitive activity; grasping the Forms with the intellect.

Tripartite soul

Three-part soul (Reason, Spirit, Appetite) corresponding to the three classes of society.

Sophist

Teachers-for-hire who educated Athenians; diverse views, often skeptical of objective truth.

Specialization

Principle that individuals should fulfill the role best suited to their nature.

Visible realm

Realm of sense-perceived objects; sensible particulars; not objects of knowledge.

Philosopher-king

A philosopher who rules; the ideal ruler in the kallipolis.

Pleonexia

Greed or propensity to injustice; used by Thrasymachus to describe justice as restraint on greed.