In Plato’s Republic, the ideal state is divided into three classes: the guardians, the soldiers, and the common people. Even though the guardians are the smallest group, they play the most significant part in this system. The political power is entirely concentrated in their hands. Initially, the guardians are chosen by a legislator, and from later on the power is inherited, but in some cases, the brightest children from other classes may be promoted. The rulers must also be philosophers. What distinguishes a philosopher-ruler is the ability to understand true reality. Their knowledge comes from years of special training and their ability to be a proper ruler comes from the motivation to make the state the best place to live for its citizens.
…show more content…
Homer and Hesiod are forbidden because they represent gods in a bad light, the Lydian and Ionian harmonies are prohibited because their music expresses sadness and sorrow, people must eat specific food that has been prepared under certain conditions and etc. Plato believes, that together these rules and division of roles in society form a well-balanced system that gives structure to people’s life. The purpose of such rigid censorship is to regulate public thinking and create a state in which children are taught morally right things and restricted from morally unacceptable things: “Anything received into the mind at that age is likely to become indelible and unalterable; and therefore, it is most important that the tales which the young first hear should be models of virtuous …show more content…
Also in Plato’s ideal state everything should be in common, even women and children. The whole institution of marriage is radically transformed. Marriages are arranged by the state in order to improve next generations (they choose men and women that are mentally and physically more appropriate). In Plato’s state children are taken away from their mothers at birth and no one knows who their blood relatives are, therefore, people do not attach emotions to their families because everyone in the state is considered to be mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers. Also, it supports the public spirit and reduces the possibility of strikes and attacks.
In my opinion, implementation of main principles of Plato’s ideal state would not be desirable. Plato’s ideas are extreme and very subjective. He lived through war with Sparta and the Thirty Tyrants, that is why his main goal was to get rid of misbalance and
Homer and Hesiod are forbidden because they represent gods in a bad light, the Lydian and Ionian harmonies are prohibited because their music expresses sadness and sorrow, people must eat specific food that has been prepared under certain conditions and etc. Plato believes, that together these rules and division of roles in society form a well-balanced system that gives structure to people’s life. The purpose of such rigid censorship is to regulate public thinking and create a state in which children are taught morally right things and restricted from morally unacceptable things: “Anything received into the mind at that age is likely to become indelible and unalterable; and therefore, it is most important that the tales which the young first hear should be models of virtuous …show more content…
Also in Plato’s ideal state everything should be in common, even women and children. The whole institution of marriage is radically transformed. Marriages are arranged by the state in order to improve next generations (they choose men and women that are mentally and physically more appropriate). In Plato’s state children are taken away from their mothers at birth and no one knows who their blood relatives are, therefore, people do not attach emotions to their families because everyone in the state is considered to be mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers. Also, it supports the public spirit and reduces the possibility of strikes and attacks.
In my opinion, implementation of main principles of Plato’s ideal state would not be desirable. Plato’s ideas are extreme and very subjective. He lived through war with Sparta and the Thirty Tyrants, that is why his main goal was to get rid of misbalance and