The Soul And Consciousness Of Revolutionary Politics

The Soul and Consciousness of Revolutionary Politics Steven Umbrello Table of Contents I Introduction 3 II The Soul and the Essence 3 III Justice and Revolutionary Consciousness 5 IV Degeneration and Global Revolution (ideology) 6 V Psychology of Political Duty and Freedom 7 VI Conclusion 7 VII Bibliography 8 I In this short paper I will be comparing and contrasting the political psychology of Plato’s Republic and Karl Marx’s political theory. Their concepts of group consciousness will be contrasted as well as how the nature and existence of ideology affect their theories. This will be concluded by a discussion on how the†¦show more content†¦Thus, for Plato, the concept of the harmonious soul is analogous to the harmonious state. When the three parts of the soul, the rational part, the desirous part and the passionate part, of individuals are harmonious then the soul is said to be just (Republic, 440c-441a). Likewise, the state is said to be just when its three analogous parts - the rulers, guardians and craftsmen - are in harmony with one another and do the duties for which they are best suited in doing (Republic, 434c). These embodiments of the virtues must be static for Plato. If the different classes were to change their roles then this would lead to degenerati on (ibid). Hence, in Plato’s political theory, the nature and structure of the soul are analogous to the nature and structure of society. On Essence What Plato calls the soul, Marx calls â€Å"the essence of man† (ToF, 157). This essence is essentially human nature. Both Plato and Marx understand that the human psychological element is the basis for understanding the political sphere. In his critique of Feuerbach’s thesis, Marx outlines what he thinks the human essence – or nature – is: â€Å"the ensemble (aggregate) of social relations† (ibid). He continues in his German Ideology by critically linking this concept of human social relations