Plato s The Republic The Myth Of The Three Metals Essay

In Plato’s The Republic, Plato uses a central story, the myth of the three metals, to illustrate his ideas as a whole. The myth of the three metals is based off of the story that Mother Nature invented all human beings and created these human beings by utilizing different metals. The three metals utilized were gold, silver, iron or bronze. From these metals, each person was born into the role they would presume in society. Gold represents the guardians, who are governed by reason, making them suitable to rule. Silver depicts the auxiliaries, who are guided by spirit, predisposing them to be guards. The final metals are iron or bronze, which share the same traits. Iron or bronze displays the farmers and other craftsmen, who are led by their appetites, creating the physical laborers in the society. Plato believes that the myth of three metals will create the perfectly ideal society, that also allows people to realize what being just means. Work on thesis statement Throughout Plato’s explanations, he utilizes the myth of the three metals to provide justification for the class system which he believes will create a perfect society. As Plato idealizes, each metal represents a specific class in society. â€Å"â€Å"Appropriately so. Nevertheless, listen to the rest of the story. â€Å"All of you in the city are brothers,† we’ll say to them in telling our story, â€Å"but the god who made you mixed some gold into those who are adequately equipped to rule, because they are most valuable.†Ã¢â‚¬ Show MoreRelatedJustice Is The Legal Or Philosophical Theory Of Justice1503 Words   |  7 Pagesout by the Ancient Greek philosopher Plato in his work The Republic. Plato was highly dissatisfied with the prevailing degenerating conditions in Athens. The Athenian democracy was on the verge of ruin and was ultimately responsible for Socrates’ death – his mentor. Plato saw in justice the only remedy of saving Ath ens from decay and ruin. 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