If, as Plato says, justice is the knowledge of what is (supposed to be), and justice is also described as the harmony of the universe, then the knowledge of what is(supposed to be) is the knowledge of harmony. Write a short paper in which you explore the relationship you understand Plato to be drawing between knowledge, harmony, justice, the whole and what is supposed to be.
Any ideas? (Please)
they’re both fun questions.
However, I doubt it’s a good idea for others to answer your exam questions for you. So what are your thoughts on both of these questions? Perhaps once we hear your ideas we may have some to contribute…
(these should probably go in the Academy)
argh… I’ve actually got an exam on Plato’s Republic tomorrow (which I only found out about today, so I’m really pissed off. Then again my teacher only just found out today too, so I can’t blame him 
), anyone want to sit it for me? 
At least the question you were set is a very interesting one, but could you please post your ideas, then we’ll all be able to help you better. It’s a bit difficult if we don’t know what you’ve already thought of and where exactly you’re having difficulties.
I have no idea can anyone just give me a friggin starting place. Pleaaaaaaasse. 
as a start, read about pythagoras’ influence on plato, then read book 4 of the republic 
Chad, you should have given me this tip yesterday! That’s exactly what came up in my exam! My teacher gave us an extract of a dialogue Plato had written on Pythagoras’ ideas and then we had to compare them to those in the Republic.
So look out for their definitions of what is just and how they differ in who has the capability to rule a state.
So, yes, good idea of Chad’s to start with Pythagoras and justice, then I’d move on to ‘knowledge’ (for both ‘knowledge’ and ‘justice’ take into account that Plato doesn’t think it’s necessary that everyone knows the truth, only a few have to know it (the philosophers and rulers of course )).
When you get to ‘whole’ bit I would contrast it to what we think of Plato’s ideas today, sort of like:
Plato: collectivism, holism
humanist: individualism
And write about the state’s position in Plato’s view (as in the state is everything, an individual is (nearly) nothing).
The state’s organisation is interesting, too, and compare it to his idea of the soul.
I’m not to sure what they mean here with harmony, are they talking about sofrosune? If so then that also belongs to the state-souls theory, as there should be sofrosune in both, that is the people should agree or be content with being ruled and the rulers should be content with ruling. The same for the soul, where the lower parts should let themselves be ruled by wisdom.