Lycurgus constitution essays

Lycurgus constitution essays Philosophy is a study that tries to define and explain how people in a community should live wisely. In his Life of Lycurgus, Plutarch wrote ...Lycurgus produced an inimitable constitution,... showing... the spectacle of an entire city acting like philosophers... (Readings, p.185). Unlike other philosophers, Lycurgus ideas were practical; his laws didnt just describe the proper way of living, but also put it to work. Using his constitution, Spartans became harmonious, developed feelings of honor, self-reliance, and self-control which the leader believed were the keys to living wisely. In addition such destructive force as individualism was replaced by a desire to serve the community. Lycurgus first reform was an economic one. He started by redistributing the land. Since there was an immense gap between the poor and the wealthy people, he created equal incomes for all Spartans. Then, he devaluated gold and silver, making only iron currency legal. This action rid Sparta of sophists, charlatans, prostitutes, gold and silver smiths. It also stopped trade and all negative influences of outsiders. To take away unnecessary desire for riches and luxury, Lycurgus introduced common dinning tables which provided just enough food for men not to be hungry. He believed eating in luxurious settings and stuffing oneself with excess of food softened and weakened him. Lycurgus thought that dining at home contributed to greed and took away from living wisely. Also he believed using services of others (servants) at dinner caused feelings of inequality and concentration on material good rather than nonmaterial one which Lycurgus advertised. Luxury became extinct an d for the most part so did pride, envy and crime. The Lycurgan system made it so that the Spartans would only attempt to compete in courage and virtue instead of competing for material goods like more land and w...