Lies, Stories, and Arguments: Can A Callipolis Exist Without the Noble Lie?

Year 2023, , 89 - 110, 26.06.2023

Tonguç Seferoğlu

https://doi.org/10.26650/arcp.1233381

Abstract

During the second half of 20th century, Plato’s presentation of a theory of citizenship and government in the Republic has been accused of being totalitarian, racialist, and anti-egalitarian. In particular, the use of a noble lie as a propaganda tool to persuade citizens about a congenital politic and economic hierarchy has rightly been subjected to intense criticism. Although Plato would not be completely acquitted of all the charges against him, linguistic and logical analyses of the epistemic status and persuasive power of the noble lie can furnish one with a deeper comprehension of Plato’s philosophical purpose. I argue that (i) the noble lie is devised to motivate those who are educated to become philosopher-rulers to work for the good of the Callipolis and its citizens and that (ii) Plato did not expect the noble lie to be enough to persuade either the philosopher-rulers or the rest of the citizens about the goodness and advantages of the government of the Callipolis. This story can be used either for having those of the common people who read Plato’s Republic understand his ideal or for persuading the future citizens of Callipolis who are unpersuadable by rational arguments, should that ever come to be. In conclusion, this study seeks to establish Plato’s awareness of the facts that the noble lie does not ensure the foundation or stability of the Callipolis and that the noble lie is thus neither sufficient nor necessary for Plato’s political ideal.

Keywords

Plato, Republic, noble lie, Callipolis, philosopher-rulers

Yalanlar, Hikayeler ve Argümanlar: Asil Yalansız Bir Kallipolis Mümkün mü?

Abstract

20. yüzyılın ikinci yarısında Platon’un Devlet’te ortaya koyduğu vatandaşlık ve yönetim teorisi totaliter, ırkçı ve eşitlikçilik karşıtı olmakla suçlanmıştır. Özellikle ulus ve yurttaş kimliği yaratmak için yönetici elitler tarafından kurgulanması öngörülen asil yalan hikayesinin vatandaşları doğuştan gelen politik ve ekonomik bir hiyerarşiye inandırmak için bir propaganda aracı gibi kullanılması haklı olarak yoğun eleştirilere maruz kalmıştır. Platon’u yukarıdaki suçlamalar karşısında tamamen aklamayacak olsa bile, asil yalanın epistemik statüsü ve ikna etme gücü hakkında yapılacak dilsel ve mantıksal analizler bize Platon’un felsefi amacına dair kapsamlı bir resim sunabilir. Bu bağlamda, (i) asil yalanın filozof-yönetici olmak için eğitilecekleri Kallipolis’in ve vatandaşların iyiliği için çalışmaya yönlendirmek için kurgulanmış olduğu; (ii) Platon’un bu yalanla ne kendini tamamıyla gerçekleştirmiş filozof-yöneticilerin ne de halkın geri kalanının Kallipolis’in yönetim biçiminin iyiliği ve yararı konusunda ikna olmasını beklemediği iddia edilecektir. Bu hikâye hem Devlet’i okuyacak sıradan halkın Platon’un idealini anlaması için hem de eğer bir gün Kallipolis kurulacaksa rasyonel argümanları anlayamayacak vatandaşları ikna etmek için kullanılabilir. Sonuç olarak, bu makale Platon’un asil yalanın ideal devletinin ne kuruluşu ne de istikrarlı bir şekilde sürdürülmesi için güvence sağlayamayacağının farkında olduğunu, asil yalanın politik ideali için ne zorunlu ne de gerekli olduğunu göstermeyi hedeflemektedir.

Keywords

Platon, Devlet, asil yalan, Kallipolis, filozof-yöneticiler

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