Plato’s Anthropology & Marx’s Historical Materialism

Posted on Feb 20, 2025 in Philosophy and ethics

Plato’s Anthropology: Body and Soul

Plato’s anthropology presents a dualistic view of the human being, composed of a body and a soul. This division stems from an ‘accident’ where the soul, having behaved improperly in the world of Ideas, falls into the world of senses and is incarnated in a body, which becomes its prison.

  • The Soul: Immaterial, immortal, and pre-existing, it is the principle of life and reason.
  • The Body: Material, lifeless, and mortal, it represents a negative aspect in Plato’s philosophy.

The soul’s ultimate goal is to return to the world of Ideas. While in the world of senses, the soul has three functions:

  1. Rational Soul

    Based on reason, its function is to guide according to reason. It is represented in various ways:

    • The charioteer (in the myth of the winged chariot)
    • The head (location of the soul)
    • Gold men (in the myth of metals)
    • Rulers (social class corresponding to the rational soul)
    • Wisdom (virtue of the rational soul)

  2. Irascible Soul

    Based on mood and more connected to the sensible world, it represents willpower, courage, and noble passions. It is symbolized by:

    • The good horse
    • The breast and chest
    • Silver men
    • Guardians
    • Strength

  3. Concupiscible Soul

    Based on appetite and related to the sensible world, it represents the infinite and the passions. Its representations include:

    • The bad horse
    • The belly
    • Bronze men
    • Producers
    • Temperance and moderation

The soul’s journey back to the world of Ideas involves reminiscence (recalling knowledge from the world of Ideas). Good behavior and the attainment of dialectic are crucial. Failure to achieve this leads to reincarnation, potentially in a worse state, until the soul purifies itself and transmigrates to the world of Ideas.

Marx’s Political Philosophy: Historical Materialism

Praxis

Marx believed that the mission of philosophers is to transform reality, uniting theory and action (praxis).

Social Structure

Marx conducted a deep analysis of social reality, identifying two key components:

  • Infrastructure: The economic base, the key factor in the historical process.
  • Superstructure: The ideological group responsible for maintaining and justifying the existing situation.

Dialectical Method and Historical Materialism

Inspired by Hegel’s dialectic (where reality develops through contrasting stages), Marx adapted it to a materialistic framework. He saw economic reality as the driving force of history, with the struggle of social classes over material conditions as its engine.

Marx viewed history as a succession of different modes of production. Private property engendered work and, with it, the division of classes. Social classes exist in dialectical opposition, with conflicting interests and a constant struggle. This dialectical process between classes and forms of production moves towards a final stage where class conflict will be overcome in a classless society.

The ultimate goal of revolution is to achieve a humane society without private property, classes, or a state. For this change to occur, the workers had to become aware of their class consciousness. A period of the “dictatorship of the proletariat” would pave the way for a communist civil society.