Plato explained that ‘philosopher-kings will often find it necessary to lie to the guardians and producers’ (Reeve: 2009:p.70) this immediately raises the question of morality. It is difficult for politics to be focused on morality when Plato is allowing rulers to lie to the ruled; this removes morality from the political process. In addition to this Plato’s disregard of women, invalids and slaves, again makes it difficult to focus politics on morality. Plato writes, ‘it is natural for women to take part in all occupations as well as men, though in all women will be the weaker partners’ (Lee: 1987:p.234) Plato adopted a very sexist view and seen as immoral by many feminists, as it is acknowledged that, ‘in his own contemporary Athens Plato is virulently antifeminist.’ (Tuana: 1994:p.12) It is once again difficult to focus politics on morality when the system that Plato proposes is deeply immoral. Lastly, Plato’s immorality spreads to his description of the treatment of those who didn’t fit into his system, ‘The constitution of a man whose constitution was bad and undermined by loose living was, they thought, of no use to them or to anyone else’ (Lee: 1987:p.171). Here is another example of the lack of morality within the system that Plato proposes. Politics should therefore not be focused on morality as
Plato explained that ‘philosopher-kings will often find it necessary to lie to the guardians and producers’ (Reeve: 2009:p.70) this immediately raises the question of morality. It is difficult for politics to be focused on morality when Plato is allowing rulers to lie to the ruled; this removes morality from the political process. In addition to this Plato’s disregard of women, invalids and slaves, again makes it difficult to focus politics on morality. Plato writes, ‘it is natural for women to take part in all occupations as well as men, though in all women will be the weaker partners’ (Lee: 1987:p.234) Plato adopted a very sexist view and seen as immoral by many feminists, as it is acknowledged that, ‘in his own contemporary Athens Plato is virulently antifeminist.’ (Tuana: 1994:p.12) It is once again difficult to focus politics on morality when the system that Plato proposes is deeply immoral. Lastly, Plato’s immorality spreads to his description of the treatment of those who didn’t fit into his system, ‘The constitution of a man whose constitution was bad and undermined by loose living was, they thought, of no use to them or to anyone else’ (Lee: 1987:p.171). Here is another example of the lack of morality within the system that Plato proposes. Politics should therefore not be focused on morality as