Plato’s Theory of Natural Depravity Essay

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Introduction

The world of a man is full of attitudinal features towards every single matter and creates in him many inner flashes of somehow versatile nature. The ancient, particularly antique, philosophers and simply wise men intended everyone to mind their traits of character and to nurture the good sides of it. It is not accidental actually that all evil in the world comes from a man. That is why one should refer to ancient philosophy in order to consult the righteousness in actions. Plato’s theory of natural depravity can help in resolving of this issue. The concept of the theory states that inexplicable manifestations of ominous attitude towards anybody or anything are caused naturally. The question remains to be answered whether it is a sort of fiction or a real occurrence in a man’s life?

Main body

First, Plato thought that a man is a symbiosis of “tripartite spirit, soul and body” (The nature of Man 1) displaying the development of him concerned with three directions. It is necessary to mention that this thought was not new for the ancient people. Even in times of ancient Jews and peoples which surrounded them the core accent consisted in the purity of spirit, soul and body, but most of all they emphasized the concept of spiritual life minding that in this sphere lay the roots of the entire life of a man.

Is a depravity factually concerns every human being? The historical cut shows the examples of people in various epochs and in various countries with evil intentions which helped them. Some of them are Genghis Khan, Ivan the Terrible, Hitler, Stalin, and even Roman Popes who provoked one fo the most bloody venture in the history of mankind known as Crusades.

Plato saw the facts of people’s depravity as a natural phenomenon of a man’s psychological coloring counting up the surroundings in which he was developed or people with which he communicated. Plato said in one of his treatise: “man was born with natural depravity and was basically an untrained animal who needed society’s help to structure, educate and fulfill his needs.” (The nature of Man 2)

Indeed this statement points out the notion of a man’s nature. Thus, looking at what Plato said and at the experience of mankind one can see the possibility of a man to strive at the evil side of him, unless a human being rejects the norms and rules of social life. Moreover, a man being a biosocial creature cannot fully go without the society where he can get the main principles and ideas for life. The commissions of crime which can be distinguished nowadays by their levels in different countries is not surprising. On the other hand, the lower level of them testifies the better development of a definite society as of the humane side of it. Though, the features of evil attitude in human beings can definitely be suppressed by good inclinations.

To conclude, the history of mankind displays the bilateral attitudes of a man: good and evil. The thing is that according to Plato’s theory of natural depravity in human beings agrees with the natural intentions of such traits in people’s characters. Evaluating all pros and cons the only way of resolving this inner danger in everyone is nurturing in the state, society, community the good policy maintaining the factors of mass culture and morality being the standpoints to prevent inexplicable evil in human beings.

Works cited

Reinhold, Roy A. . 2005. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2021) 'Plato’s Theory of Natural Depravity'. 1 November.

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IvyPanda. 2021. "Plato’s Theory of Natural Depravity." November 1, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/platos-theory-of-natural-depravity/.

1. IvyPanda. "Plato’s Theory of Natural Depravity." November 1, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/platos-theory-of-natural-depravity/.


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