Myth of the Metals: Philosophy Forums

Myth of the Metals

Blessedvirtu0s0
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Posted 10/02/08 - 09:01 AM: Subject: Myth of the Metals	#1
Plato says in his Republic in Book III (I think..) that society is divided into 3 - philosopher-kings, guardians, and common men. He used the Myth of the Metals to further his point. I don't recall (and I'm sitting in philosophy class right now and my doctor does not know) Plato saying what would happen if a member of the bronze caste were to mate with a member of the gold caste. What would become of them and what would become of their children? I related this to the caste system in India.. if I remember reading right, if a Brahman were to mate with an Untouchable, according to the Law of Manu (sp??) they would be rejected, unrecognized as husband and wife, and would become Untouchables. Could someone give in their input with any possible plausible backup?

Cadrache
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Posted 10/02/08 - 10:53 AM:	#2
In one word: Purity. In 2 words: muddied water. In well.. more words: The problem with a caste system is quite often the issue that biological preference does not always meet sociological limitations. In a large number of cases; Society attempts to dictate the definition of the individual based from the standpoint of a specific caste-definition. Ie. Instead of saying person X is a philosopher-king because this is what he is; they claim that you are a philosopher-king because that is what you will be. This creates the pre-determined sociatal roles syndrome.

ManiacJack
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Posted 10/02/08 - 02:13 PM:	#3
He says it is a cyclic system, where the tyrant leads, then the elite, then the many, then the tyrant, etc. Thus, individual < group < populace < individual This caste system is coming from the same guy who though non-Greeks were not men, right?
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