Socrates Specialization Analysis

Socrates reaches his conclusion on the principle of specialization when he analyzes an individual’s needs and the plurality of needs. Although I agree with Socrates’ assertion that specialization is more productive for society, I do not agree that one is “to work all his life at a single trade…and keep away from all the others” (374b) as it creates a one dimensional society that defies the natural curiosity in humans. Socrates states that a city arises from the variety of needs of individuals and because of the many needs, one person calls upon another to satisfy these needs (369b-c). In order to provide these necessities, each individual is to contribute “his own work for the common use of all” (369e). Thus everybody must participate …show more content…
Socrates provides the example that a farmer would produce efficiently if he used all his time to provide food to be shared by everyone than if he were to spend his time producing food, providing shelter and clothing solely for himself (369e). This is beneficial to society as it provides more goods to be shared by individuals to meet their needs and by doing a particular task for a period of time, the quality of output increases and one is able to become an expert at the task and develop different methods in facilitating the process. Socrates states that one should remain at an occupation for his whole life and keep away from others (374b). Although this is beneficial to society, people should be allowed to explore beyond the limitations of their intended professions as humans are complex creatures and desire “things that go beyond what is necessary for a city” (373b). Moreover, Socrates states that in an ideal city, wives, children, education, and one’s way of life must be in common (573a), this further produces a robotic and one dimensional society as humans, by nature, “aren’t all born alike…each of us differs somewhat in nature from the others”