Discuss how Plato reconciles free will and determinism in the myth of Er. How is it related to his definition of justice?
Discuss how Plato reconciles free will and determinism in the myth of Er. How is it related to his definition of justice?
1. Plato’s “Myth of Er” is about a solider named Er who was slain in battle and twelve days later he came back to the living. He was able to revive because he was given the mission to describe the process of afterlife to humanity. The first process is judgment, the souls are sent to judges who determine if they should go to heaven or hell. An example of Plato’s definition of justice is shown here “where the just are rewarded and the wicked are punished” tenfold (Gill). The next part of the process, they are sent to Lachesis where their “genius will not be allotted to” them (Gill). This is where Plato reconciles free will and determinism, the souls are given a selection of new destinies for the next life, even though they are given free will to choose their destiny, their destiny is still predetermined. The last step is the River of Unmindfulness/Forgetfulness, this is where the souls are told to drink from the river to forget about their previous life and start a new one. Plato’s justice is that if you live a virtuous life, you will have a virtuous afterlife but even if you were a terrible person in the previous life, you will be punished but not for eternally, you will still be able to live a new life like everyone else.
2. In Plato’s “Myth of Er” he tells the story of a warrior, Er, who was thought to have died in battle. After being dead for twelve days, he awakens to tell of a journey through the afterlife. He explains he was sent back to his life to tell of the process of the afterlife which includes judgment, destiny, and rebirth. (Gill, 2017) These parts of the story contain Plato’s thoughts on justice explained through this story of free will and determinism.
The first part of Er’s journey is Judgment. His soul arrives in an in-between space where there are two judges that determine if the actions in your life have been just or unjust. Those that have acted justly are told to proceed through to heaven. Those that have been unjust are told to proceed through hell. In heaven or hell, whatever actions you did good or bad are given back to you ten fold. This is a display of of Plato’s thoughts on justice being served.
The second part of Er’s journey is destiny. After each person’s soul has completed their journey through heaven or hell they embark on another journey toward the chains of heaven. There they are met with the Fates, the daughters of Necessity. They cast examples of lives from which each soul may choose one for their next life. The prophet that orders them to choose a lot explains they should choose carefully, as choosing a destiny that does not do well for your soul can lead to a life of despair and tyranny. Once the souls choices are made the Fates set into motion the destiny for their next life. (Gill, 2017) What I find interesting is that Plato is saying all souls get to move onto a new cycle of life despite what happened in their previous life. He is saying even those that get the last pick of the lots of destiny have a chance at happiness and a life of virtue. It seems Plato’s idea of free will is that you get to chose your destiny and it is never too late to live a good life, even if you’ve been through hell. He is also speaking a lot to his thoughts on determination. Through this story Plato is saying that certain destiny’s are not meant for certain souls. If someone chooses a destiny without consideration of what is virtuous and right for their soul, they will suffer and are doomed to injustice.
