Friday, September 12, 2014
Would You Want To Be A Guardian, Auxiliary, or Worker?
The difference between a guardian, auxiliary, and worker is very simple. Plato stated that a Guardian is someone who makes decisions that are best for the people in the state. They are the rulers. They are best for these positions as rulers because they are most wise and virtuous, but they do not want the power they are given. They are best for the position as rulers because we know that they will do their job well and they won't be greedy for money or power. They will just do what they have been told to do so they can make sure their people are in good hands. Plato also stated that an Auxiliary is the one that keeps the people and the workers in check. An example of these types of people are police officers. A police officer (auxiliary) is the ones that watch over the workers (people in the city) and keep everyone safe. They are the ones that makes sure the people around follow the laws and do what they are supposed to do. They are not superior and not the high class, but they are the ones who keep the laws down and obeyed. The last thing Plato stated is that a Worker is someone who keeps the own in tack. They are the ones who build the buildings, make the food, and really create the whole city. An example of these types of people is construction workers. The are the ones who build the buildings that you work at and the houses for people to live in the city. Now that you know what they are, who do you choose to be? I choose to be an auxiliary.
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I think that anyone who chooses to be a guardian wouldn't be an ideal one because it would have to be a person who isn't interested in power. With that in mind, I would probably choose to be an auxiliary because regulating and enforcing the law seems like a rewarding position to have in an ideal republic. I'm also terrible at manual labor so being a worker would probably have bad results.
ReplyDeleteI feel the need to question the Guardians in the community Plato describes. Why would there be a need for police officers in a community where everyone and everything is perfectly just, and everyone is doing exactly what they were put on Earth to do? Wouldn't they be unnecessary? Please help me to understand this, as it is very contradictory in my opinion. The Guardians, according to our book, "The Good Life, are described as, "soldier-police who enforce the laws, defend the state, and are motivated by a desire for honor." People on here keep confusing the Guardians and the Auxiliary I think, because I keep seeing where the Auxiliary are called the "law enforcers" and the Guardians are the "rulers." This exactly backwards from what Plato stated in the book. Just wanting clarification...what would be the need for law enforcement, if everyone is already a law-abiding just citizen inherently?
ReplyDeleteI think those are all great explanations of the positions that Plato describes in The Republic. I myself would would like to be a Guardian. I think this explanation fits me pretty well, with not worrying as much about power but worry more about the well being and balance of the state. I agree that there could be problems with the balances with which one is im chanrge and not being equal, but overall i think this theory would work great.
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