The function of human beings - part two
A conversation with ChatGPT about the controversial foundation for Plato's Republic
Jannik: Do you think it would make sense to say that, in Plato's Republic, the primary function of human beings is the virtue justice - defined as a basic understanding of the importance of contributing to the good of the community and a basic understanding of where one fits into the community?
ChatGPT: It could indeed make sense to propose that the primary function of human beings is the virtue of justice, understood as a basic awareness of the importance of contributing to the good of the community and a fundamental understanding of where one fits into the community. This interpretation is in line with the ideas presented in Plato's Republic, where justice is considered to be a key virtue and the foundation of an ideal state.
In the Republic, Socrates argues that a just state is one in which each individual understands their role and fulfills their unique function, contributing to the harmony and well-being of the entire community. This idea of justice is closely related to the concept of specialization, where individuals focus on the tasks they are best suited for, thus maximizing their potential and improving the efficiency of the state.
Under this interpretation, the primary function of human beings would be to cultivate the virtue of justice within themselves, which would involve understanding and fulfilling their specific role in society while also working towards the common good. This notion of justice connects the individual's well-being to the well-being of the community, emphasizing the importance of cooperation and mutual support.
In summary, it is plausible to argue that the primary function of human beings is the virtue of justice, as it encompasses both the individual's responsibility to contribute to the good of the community and their understanding of their unique role within it. This perspective aligns well with the themes and ideas presented in Plato's Republic.
Jannik: The idea of the virtue justice as the primary function of human beings is very similar to the Stoic theory of oikeiosis. Don't you think?
ChatGPT: Yes, you are right. The idea of the virtue of justice as the primary function of human beings, as presented in Plato's Republic, bears similarities to the Stoic concept of oikeiosis. Oikeiosis is a Greek term often translated as "appropriation" or "familiarization," and it is a central concept in Stoic ethics.
Oikeiosis is the natural process by which individuals develop a sense of belonging and attachment to others, starting with their immediate family and gradually expanding to include larger social groups and, ultimately, all of humanity. The Stoics believed that human beings possess an innate tendency to care for themselves and others, which can be nurtured and expanded upon to form a broader understanding of the interconnectedness of all people.
The process of oikeiosis is closely tied to the Stoic concept of justice, as it involves recognizing the importance of contributing to the common good and understanding one's role within the broader human community. Like the Platonic concept of justice, Stoic justice emphasizes the importance of understanding and fulfilling one's duties to others and working towards the well-being of the whole.
Both the Platonic concept of justice as the primary function of human beings and the Stoic theory of oikeiosis share a focus on the interconnectedness of individuals within a community and the importance of working towards the common good. Although the specific philosophical frameworks and ideas may differ, these two concepts share a fundamental concern with the development of a just and harmonious society based on cooperation and mutual support.
Jannik: One significant difference between Plato's concept of justice and the Stoic concept of oikeiosis is that the Stoics do not use this concept to describe the harmony of different parts of the soul - since they didn't think that the soul has different parts.
ChatGPT: You are correct in pointing out a significant difference between Plato's concept of justice and the Stoic concept of oikeiosis. While both ideas emphasize the importance of understanding one's role in a community and working towards the common good, they diverge in their understanding of the human soul and its relation to justice.
In Plato's Republic, justice is not only a principle that applies to society but also to the individual's soul. According to Plato, the human soul has three parts: the rational, the spirited, and the appetitive. A just person is someone whose soul is in harmony, with the rational part guiding the spirited and appetitive parts. This internal harmony of the soul mirrors the harmony of an ideal state, where each citizen understands and fulfills their unique function, contributing to the overall well-being of the community.
The Stoics, on the other hand, had a different view of the human soul. They did not believe that the soul had different parts; instead, they saw the soul as a single, unified entity. In Stoic philosophy, the focus is on developing one's rationality and cultivating virtues such as wisdom, courage, justice, and moderation. The concept of oikeiosis is important in this context, as it represents the natural process through which individuals develop a sense of belonging and responsibility to others.
So, while both Plato's concept of justice and the Stoic concept of oikeiosis share a concern for understanding one's role in society and working towards the common good, they differ in their approach to the human soul and its relation to justice. The Platonic view emphasizes the harmony of the soul's different parts, whereas the Stoic view focuses on the cultivation of rationality and virtues in a unified soul.
It should be noted that the Stoic theory of oikeiosis is a theory of what "belong to us" and that in Plato's Republic (around 434a) Socrates defined justice as "doing what is one's own - what naturally belongs to us". Plato's theory of justice is a theory of oikeiosis just as the Stoic theory of oikeiosis is also a theory of justice.