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The Importance of Kateben

*Socrates describes four different types of government as they degrade. To a Ancient Greek reader, this would bring to mind Odysseus going down to Hades in the Odyssey. Odysseus went down, kateben, to find Teiriseus so he could be told how to get home. In the same way, Socrates is suggesting that the city that has devolved from aristocracy must go down to the bottom, tyranny, in order to find its way back home.

Symbolism

*Socrates has gone down to Piraeus to see the the induction of the goddess who ushers the dead into Hades. Piraeus symbolizes Hades, where, you could say, any government must go before it finds its way back to normal. During Socrates and Plato's life, the Pelopponesian War ended with Athens being massacred at Syracuse. This is a real life example of a government and polis going through "Hades."

	Interpretation
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What was Socrates saying? The basic idea in Book VIII is that just as the 'city in speech' has a human counterpart, so do the lesser forms of government. Each city's soul is reflected by the people who live in it. In the Republic, there are many connections to Ancient Greece that the average reader today would miss.
		The Importance of Kateben Socrates describes four different types of government as they degrade. To a Ancient Greek reader, this would bring to mind Odysseus going down to Hades in the Odyssey. Odysseus went down, kateben, to find Teiriseus so he could be told how to get home. In the same way, Socrates is suggesting that the city that has devolved from aristocracy must go down to the bottom, tyranny, in order to find its way back home. Symbolism* *Socrates has gone down to Piraeus to see the the induction of the goddess who ushers the dead into Hades. Piraeus symbolizes Hades, where, you could say, any government must go before it finds its way back to normal. During Socrates and Plato's life, the Pelopponesian War ended with Athens being massacred at Syracuse. This is a real life example of a government and polis going through "Hades."
Do you Agree? In Book VIII of the Republic, Socrates puts forth a very convincing agruement that all governments besides republic aristocracies are devolutions. I agree with him, on the most part. I think that though timocracy, oligarchy, democracy, and tyranny are not perfect, neither is an aristocracy. Key points (like everyone having say in government, having only one leader, etc.) can be taken from all of the types of governments to make a better one. What do you think?