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Plato

Classical Political Philosophy (University of Delhi)

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PLATO

In order to understand any political thinker it is important to first understand the context,
in which he wrote. Plato wrote on political philosophy in ancient Greece which was
marked by no central authority and extreme decentralization. The society was agrarian
majority, slavery was a common practice and the structure was patriarchal on most
instances. After Athens was defeated by Sparta Plato was curious to find out what went
wrong with Athens. He wanted to device with best possible principle of organisation so
that he could forge an ideal state.

Plato belongs to the Idealist school, mostly concerning himself with “what ought to be”,
rather than “what is”. He was influenced by his famous teacher Socrates and by the works
of Pythagoras. Is methodology is derived from Socrates, both employ dialectics, that is
the deductive approach. Plato's thoughts are teleological. Teleology means ‘the object
with an objective’. It follows that every phenomenon exists for itself and keeps moving
towards its desired goal. Plato's teleological approach can well be seen in his theory of
Forms. Plato was convinced that what appears is the shadow of what it can be.

Socrates believe that it is not enough to know what constitutes life it is more important to
know the purpose of life. Thus, he propounded that the purpose of life is happiness,
which is a source of satisfaction, and to gain happiness one needs excellence. He defines
excellence as virtue. The purpose of life thus is virtuous life.

He deduces that since virtuous life requires excellence and excellence required
knowledge, hence knowledge is virtue.

This implies that to lead a good life we require knowledge of good life. He defines
philosophy as knowledge of good life as it helps understand the idea behind good life.
Since an Idea can't be seen or observed, it can be understood only by logical reasoning or
dialectics.

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Dialectics starts from arguments or thesis and these are challenged by counter arguments
or anti-thesis which leads to a conclusion or the synthesis.
He believed that knowledge is inherent in man in our soul and in order to lead a good life
we need to enlighten our soul. This enlightenment is possible through logical reasoning,
it is a process through which our believes are transformed into true knowledge.

Theory of Ideas

Plato's theory of Ideas is influence Socrates' theory of knowledge, purpose behind the
theory of ideas is to establish that the ideal state exists and on the basis of such
understanding, Athens can be made an ideal state. The theory of ideas is at the centre of
plateaus philosophy. Knowledge is fixed permanent and unchanging and thus identifies
with the realm of ideal as opposed to the physical world which is seen as it appears.
Knowledge constitutes what is ideal in what appears to the eye is actual does there is a
difference between what is ideal what is actual between what are formed and what are
appearances and between what is knowledge and what is an opinion. Plato puts forward
the theory of ideas through the allegory of the cave. Here people are sitting in a cave with
the hands tied and back towards the mouth of the cave. They look at their Shadows and of
the objects of the outside world fall on the fall of the cave since they are not seeing the
real thing we consider the Shadows to be the reality. When one of the individuals breaks
free and escapes from the cave into the light of the day he sees for the first time the real
world. He informed his fellow men that the only thing they have seen till now are
shadows and appearances and that the real world awaits them only if they are willing to
struggle free of their bonds. Plato here wants to convey that the visible world is the
shadow of the real world or the Form.

Plato's theory of ideas is closely related to his belief that virtue is knowledge. According
to him the ultimate object of virtue is to obtain knowledge, the knowledge of virtue in
highest level of knowledge, and as knowledge is attainable so is virtue.

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This theory of Plateau has been extended to his political theory. In an ideal state, Plato
believes, the rulers should be the ones who are the knowledge of ruling people. Till
power is in the hands of those who have knowledge, states would have peace.

Theory of Justice

Justice is the central theme of Plato's Republic. It is more the performance of duties than
the enjoyment of rights, it is individual's contribution to the society in accordance to its
ability capacity and capabilities.

Plato justice does not consist in nearly adhering to the laws as it is based on the nature
human spirit or the human soul, concept that he borrows from Pythagoras. Plato believe
that all souls have three elements reason, courage, and appetite. All individuals have soul
but all souls are not equal, in some reason dominates while in some others courage or
appetite may dominate. Based on this Plato spins a web of noble lies - that particular
element of the soul correspond do a metal. Hence, are men of gold silver and copper.
Gold corresponds to domination of reason, silver corresponds to the domination of
courage and proper response to the domination of appetite. Each individual should pursue
a function for which one is fit and nature. For the men of gold their function is to rule as
reason dominates their soul, the men of silver are the auxiliaries that protect the state,
while the men of copper engaged in agriculture production and other businesses as
appetite dominates their soul. The men of Gold and Silver constitute the Guardian Class
while the men of Copper constitute the producer class.

Justice according to Plato, thus, means specialisation, excellence and non interference in
each others task, and as the state is an individual writ large Plato believes that if the
people are able to find a balance of the three elements within themselves they will
automatically be a balance in the state.

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Plato on Education

The essence of Plato's philosophy was the creation of an ideal state and to bring about
reforms to achieve the same. His scheme of education precisely aims at this objective of
establishing justice in the ideal state.

Plato believed in state led education. According to Plato the most important function of
state is to educate its citizens. There would be no discrimination on the basis of sex, both
men and women had equal opportunities. He also prescribed compulsory military
education and civic education inspired by this Spartan model.

He gave a detailed structure of education for primary and secondary level. The structure
was very comprehensive asset included both physical and mental training the most
impressive aspect however was the higher education. There was a screening test at the
age of 20 whereby those who fail would join the auxiliary class and others would be
promoted for higher learning of philosophy, geometry, and dielectrics till age of 35.

From the age of 35 to 50 years practical training was imparted thus at the age of 50 the
individual would be eligible for the position of the Philosopher King - the ideal ruler for
the ideal state. In his quest to establish the ideal state, education was the primary
instrument for Plato and he used the supplementary mechanism of communism of
property and family to reinforce the spirit imparted by the education system.

Communism of Property and Families

Justice according to Plato is the very objective of the ideal state. The ideal state according
to Plato consists of three classes the rulers, auxiliaries, and the producers, each
performing the prescribed task. Justice would be done if the Guardians (the rulers and the
auxiliaries) do away with private property. For property represents the elements of
appetite, and to do away with property demand the Communism of families. As private
property and family relationships appear to be the chief source of corruption in every

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community neither is to have recognition in the perfect state. Given that lactose main
concern is the ideal nature of the state he was not ready to entertain any degree of
corruption which usually stems from two locations one is personal greed and second from
love for family. The philosopher king or rather the Guardian class will have to sacrifice
private property and family.

The first profession of private property and tell the rulers and the auxiliary is not on any
land or money and that they shall have their meals at a common table. The Communism
of family later means abolition of permanent monogamous sexual relationship and
regulation of breeding by the state for eugenic purpose, thus as no one will know there
offspring there would be no favoritism and no nepotism in the ideal state. According to
Sabine Plato's argument for Communism of property and families was that the unity of
the state demands their abolition.

Plato believe those who exercise political power should not have economic motives, and
those who engage in economic activities should have no share in political power. Plato
was inspired by Sparta, in this regard.

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