Platonic self-harmony is achieved through internal colonization of nature by reason

Evidence

A harmony within the self is the Platonic objective for the just and ethical life, but because of the necessarily irresoluble character of the conflict as a denied relationship of dependency, it is one which can only ever be achieved temporarily and only then through the internal analogues of conquest and colonisation, namely repression and denial. The right relation between the elements, or health, is defined in terms of colonisation, control and subordination of this element—nature within—by reason and its allies within the self (Republic 444D). In the same way, the right order in the universe is the colonisation of the world of material nature by logos, as represented in the ‘world-soul’. — Val Plumwood, Feminism and the Mastery of Nature, 348

Categorization

• XREF: Extends the denial/dependency mechanism of ch8 to the intra-psychic realm; internal ‘colonisation and repression’ maps to the settler-colonial and eco-justice themes running through the polyad. — connects to: Plato’s devaluation targeted internal nature for discipline, not external nature for control — Val Plumwood, Feminism and the Mastery of Nature, 411; A single reason-over-nature dualism structures every domain of Plato’s philosophy — Val Plumwood, Feminism and the Mastery of Nature, 312; Rational self-preservation conquers nature only by imitating nature’s own rigidity — Theodor W. Adorno, Max Horkheimer, Dialectic of Enlightenment, 63 (+4 more)
• DEFINE: Defines health/justice in Plato as literally a conquest relationship, which grounds the broader ecofeminist claim that domination of nature is structure, not excess.

Broader Connections

• Rational self-preservation conquers nature only by imitating nature’s own rigidity #corroborates (0.85) — Theodor W. Adorno, Max Horkheimer, Dialectic of Enlightenment, 63
• Descartes relocated the Platonic devaluation of nature from virtue into consciousness #expands (0.80) — Val Plumwood, Feminism and the Mastery of Nature, 423
• Classical philosophy founded reason on harmony with a totality #qualifies (0.75) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 1457