The Conflict among Virtues in the Statesman

Abstract

Plato is committed to the view that all perfections are united. When writing the STATESMAN, our philosopher is keen on maintaining that some perfections clash with others, which means that a thing can possess one of them only to the extent it lacks the opposite perfection. However the STATESMAN's main purpose and thrust is likely to be that of emphasizing the necessity of some unity among opposite qualities. Plato recognizes that in each case there is some desirable mean between the extremes, but where it lies changes according to circumstances. Trying to secure that convenient mean doesn't debar us from loking upon the extremes under consideration as virtues or perfections themselves. The final lesson of the STATESMAN is a confirmation of Plato's late doctrine of the unity of opposites and some compatibility of sorts between being-so and not-being-so, in virtue of the existence of degrees. The statesman's art is wisdom to find the suitable degree in each case, to accomplish the just alloy or admixture of opposite characters and qualities so as to produce a good citizenry.