Is happiness related to being good Why/Why not - Essay Example

Plato’s model of an ideal society is based on the corresponding tripartite soul. The tripartite soul is the thought man has three parts; reason, spirited element, and bodily needs. The tripartite ideal city is also made up of three parts; Guardians-the ruling/governing class, Military, and Producers-the working class. Plato stated that the road to an ideal society is for the individual to acknowledge their function in society. Plato writes, “You mustnt start forcing us to give the guardians the kind of happiness which will turn them into anything other than guardians” (Plato 112).

That position would be either in the ruling class, military, or the working class. Plato points out that all three classes were of equal value, but asserting, “We were not looking at one class within the city, with a view to shaping the happiness of that class” (Plato 165). When individual were excepting of their place in society, happiness is reached. A happy society produces happy individuals. Plato looked at the societal issues by writing, “The Republic goodness and happiness, the same as the comparison between city and city” (Plato 292).

Basically Plato believed that by individuals working in their place in society created an ideal society with the ideal man. Thus happiness is achieved by being good in Plato’s society. The only dilemma with Plato’s belief is individuals have to know their role in society. An individual’s talent would dictate their place in society, not their passion. For example, if a man was a more than competent soldier, that was his place in society; not in politics or as a producer. Even if an individual’s talent made them miserable, that was their position.

Plato believed by fulfilling your function in society, thus making the ideal society, then happiness would follow. Being good, fulfilling you duty, an individual could find happiness. Yet