The seventh letter of Plato is the longest epistles written by the philosopher where he gives an account to his activities in Sicily. The letter also talks about Dionysius II of Syracuse and Dion. This is one of the most fascinating letters written by the philosopher. It contains philosophic Digression that reveals a lot about the life of the author. Plato is considered as one of the fathers of philosophy and played a vital role in laying the foundations of science, mathematics and western philosophy. He also influenced Western religion (Christianity) and spiritually. Most of his works were in form of dialogues which attracted a lot of attention and made him one of the most fascinating and influential writers of his time. Plato has always been discreet about his work and one cannot really tell how he derived his philosophical views. However, the seventh letter is special because it gives insight on how Plato derived his political views and how he was involved in politics of Syracuse.
The letter is a response to friends and family of the late Dion of Syracuse and was written in 360 B.C.E. Plato explains he was urged by Dion to influence Dionysius II to rule in a more philosophical fashion; this would create harmony and stability. Dion was moved during the discourse he had with Plato and he believed if Dionysius II would be influenced, then there would be a just and right government in the region. However, Dion’s attempts were considered selfish and it appeared that he wanted Dionysius II to be influenced so that he could take control of the region. His actions made Dionysius II condemn him to exile; people who were close to him had influenced him. Plato further narrates how he embraced Dionysius II despite the fear that he would end up with the same fate as his friend. Plato emphasizes on the fact that it is important to seek the counsel of the wise. Dionysius II was fascinated and intrigued by Plato’s wisdom that he held him prisoner in Syracuse. Despite Plato’s involvement with the government, Dionysius II did not embrace his political views ( Harward, 1994). This has made some critics conclude that his philosophical views may have not been realistic or ideal in the real world. He concludes his letter by explaining the perfect circle as an unchanging, existing and eternal form.
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The authenticity of the letter is yet to be established. Some critics believe that the philosopher did not write the letter. They believe that it must have been written by someone who had a detailed account of events that happened in his life, most probably one of his students. Despite this, the letter is a good read and gives insight to many things that are happening in the world today. To begin with, the letter has made me believe that the world may not always be as what we perceive it to be. For instance, we may think that if certain things were done differently, then the results may be different. The fact that Plato’s political ideologies were not embraced regardless of the impressive impression he made makes it even more bothersome. Dionysius II was impressed by Plato and even held him captive, but this did not make him change the way he ran his government.
This class has taught me to be in touch with my critical side of thinking and I tend to ponder deep on the issues around me. As the weeks progress, I tend to analyze situations and try to have an explanation for why things happen the way they do. This has helped me understand people and have my explanations for situations. I tend to think deeply about why something happened and find logical answers to the questions. My thinking is more rational and deep. I do not make judgment from the outside and I tend to understand people I relate with on a daily basis. This deep reflections and understandings have made me more analytical and cautious of what I feed my mind.
The article is a great history marker and it has helped too understand a few things about the philosopher. I had the impression that all philosophers were brave and did not have any fears. While reading the article, I discovered that Plato was human and had worries and fears that made him want to escape from Syracuse . He was always afraid of being taken to exile and this made him anxious and cautious. The article also sheds light on the impact of relations in the society. People often influence your decisions and reactions to situations. I can relate this to my life, once I decided to be in control of the people I give my time, I have had a peaceful life. I tend to spend more time with people who encourage me to be a better person and those I admire. I can also relate to the fears Plato had. I believe fear is a common occurrence in life and we have to learn how to face them. If we let fear govern us, we may tend to be frustrated and live a life full of worry. At times, the things we are afraid of do not even exist. If I can relate this to Plato, he was afraid he would be taken to exile and was always eager to escape; unknown to him, he had favor with Dionysius II and that is why he was held captive.
Reference
Harward, J. (1994). The Seventh Letter. Retrieved June 9, 2016 from; http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/seventh_letter.1b.txt
