Plato – His Ideal State, Philosopher Kings and Justice
Introduction
- Plato was born in 427 B.C in an aristocratic Athenian family.
- Real Name: Aristocles
- Father: Ariston, Mother: Perictione, Family Name: Solon
- Opened First Academy in 387 BCE and was Closed in 529 CE
- Loved to write.
- 22 genuine, 11 disputed dialogues, and 13 letters
Plato wrote philosophy in reaction to events that occurred in Greece at the time. These experiences left an indelible impression on Plato’s mind. The first of these events was the domestic betrayal of Athenian democracy and the defeat of Athenian democracy at the hands of the Spartan oligarchy in the Peloponnesian war. The oligarchic rule of thirty that was installed in Athens after its defeat turned out to be quite repressive. Plato was disillusioned for the second time. The execution of Socrates by democracy, which had been reconstituted in Athens after the fall of the Thirty Tyrants, was the third and last event. This was the greatest philosophical sin.
Plato grew up in a war-torn city. The Peloponnesian War began in 430 BC and lasted three decades, culminating in Athens’ decisive defeat in 404 BC. He was born in a city at war, Athens. When Athens was defeated, he matured. Plato witnessed not just Athens’ defeat and humectation, but also the democratic government’s incapacity. The loss of Athens by Sparta (military oligarchy) indicates that democratic rule is ineffective. Plato was perfectly capable of dealing with issues such as state decline and its causes. On the other hand, he was obligated to deal with the issue of good governance and its stability.
Plato was finally disillusioned by modern politics and politicians after Socrates’ conviction. He saw that Athenian democracy was plagued by two major flaws. One was the reign of uneducated individuals who pretended to be experts. The second reason was political egoism. People took over political offices to pursue their own agendas. This created chaos, dividing every city into two hostile factions of affluent and poor/oppressors and downtrodden.
Plato was dissatisfied with the many types of government in use in Athens at the time. In philosophy, he discovered the answers to the city’s problems. In “republic,” he plays with his ideas. Plato’s “Republic” is a criticism of Greek society in this way.
Table of contents
IMPACTS ON PLATO
- The defeat of Athens (Peloponnesian war)
- Rule of Thirty Tyrants
- Execution of Socrates
- Influence of Pythagoras
THE IDEAL STATE OF PLATO
- Plato’s disillusionment with politics
- Foundation the Academy
- Ideal state
- Division of labor
- Functional specialization
- Justice in state
THEORY OF EDUCATION
AIM OF EDUCATION
SYSTEM OF EDUCATION
- Elementary Education
- Higher Education
- Rule of Philosophy
THEORY OF COMMUNISM
- Communism of property
- Communism of Family
CRITICISM
- Ideal state a myth
- Watertight compartmentalization impossible
- Opposed to the development of personality
- Absence of freedom and equality
- Founder of totalitarianism
- The narrow conception of education
- Deplorable disbelief in the capacity of masses
- Philosopher ruler identifies self-interest
- Philosophy and kingship cannot go together
- Educational curriculum insufficient for the ruler
- Rejection of law is objectionable
- Acceptance of institution of slavery
- His wrong analogies
- Communism of wives impossible
- Development of children impossible
- Ideal state inconceivably small in size
CONCLUSION
EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF PLATO.
(OR) REPUBLIC- THE FINEST TREATY ON EDUCATION.
- Introduction
- The ultimate function of the state is pedagogic
- Aim of platonic education
- Grafting Spartans over the Athenian education system
- Athenian system of education
- Spartan system of education
FEATURES OF PLATONIC EDUCATION
- Higher education an innovation
- Balanced growth of human facilities
- State-controlled education
- Education for both the sexes
- Education for all the classes
- Censorship of books and literature
PHILOSOPHER-KING (OR)
INFLUENCE OF PHILOSOPHER ON POLITICS.
- Introduction
- Basic assumptions of the rule of philosophy
- The analogy between individual and state
- Virtue is knowledge
- Device for the supply of philosopher-rulers
- Limitations upon the philosopher-ruler
FEATURES OF PLATO’S RULE OF PHILOSOPHY
- Most original concept
- Government by the Elite
- Philosopher-king includes both the sexes
- The philosopher is a lover of wisdom
- The interest of the philosopher-ruler is identical with state-interest
- philosopher-ruler is absolute
- Not unqualified absolutism
- The ruling is an art
CRITICISM
CONCLUSION
PLATO’S CONCEPT OF JUSTICE
- Plato’s theory of justice
- Traditional theory
- Sophists’ theory of justice
- Justice in individual
PLATO’S “REPUBLIC” AND “LAWS”