A Study Of Plato's Thought Of Temperance

Temperance(s?phrosun?)is an important part of Plato's(427-347 BC)city-state ethics.It is a kind of virtue that can make people and the city-state harmonious and orderly inside and outside.In the theoretical system of the "four cardinal virtues" occupied an important position.Plato's abstinence thought not only had a profound impact on the values of ancient Greek society at that time,but also had important significance for the cultivation of the virtue of abstinence.The geographical features of a small country with few people in ancient Greece made overseas colonization and overseas trade the best way for its development,and gradually formed a national character that challenged authority and yearned for freedom.People's desires are often not well controlled,which eventually leads to disorder and frequent wars.In such an environment,Plato deeply reflected on the virtues of temperance and constructed a systematic thought system of temperance.Plato believes that the virtues of temperance have internal coordination and self-restraint,which is a code of conduct focusing on desire,pursuing greater goodness,and ultimately leading to a harmonious and orderly happy life.According to Plato's description of the virtues of temperance in his dialogues,the virtues of temperance can be defined as: on the basis of cognition,it can not only regulate certain desires appropriately with personal reason,but also make personal reason voluntarily obey the ruler's reason,and finally achieve the individual.A quality of harmony within the soul and city-state.In Plato's ideological system,the virtue of temperance is a basic independent virtue,which together with wisdom,courage,and justice constitute the four virtues that an ideal city should have.After reviewing existing research and Plato's writings,it is found that the virtue of temperance,as a basic virtue that runs through all classes,is closely related to the other three virtues.The relationship between them is:temperance is a means by which wisdom can lead the city to good.Temperance is the possibility of bravery,and temperance is a prerequisite for city-state justice.As a great ancient Greek philosopher,Plato's temperance thought has a foundational role in the history of Western philosophy.And in the face of the social reality of swelling selfish desires,the virtue of temperance still has practical significance at the moment.But this does not mean that Plato's temperance virtues can be directly applied.His moderation thought contains the deprivation of the subject's right to choose.At the same time,the reason in Plato's temperance virtues has also been alienated.Therefore,we should criticize and absorb Plato's temperance virtues,absorb the essence of Plato's temperance thought,and explore the cultivation paths of temperance virtues relying on education of pains and pleasures and poetry and music.The cultivation of the temperance makes the individual soul and the country in order to promote people's good life.