In Plato’s Republic, the dissolution of private family life is what facilitates the unification of the city, Kallipolis. In his discussion with Glaucon, Socrates attempts to eliminate the gap between the private and public spheres by indicating that “[e]verything [in the city] should be in common” (Grube 1992, 451e). By eliminating the possibility of a family life, the loyalty of the Guardian class will no longer be divided between their commitment to private relationships, and their obligations to the city. In other words, the Guardians will be more effective in performing their duties if they were not distracted by the familial responsibilities of their daily lives. For example, Guardians will not be burdened by responsibilities of parenthood where they might place their emotional feelings of acceptance, love, and affection for their wives and children over their duties for the city (Grube 1992, 449c). This is why Socrates suggests that everyone in the city should treat each other as “a brother or sister, a father or mother, a son or daughter” insofar as to prevent any form of favouritism towards a private family member (Grube 1992, 463c). In this way, the Guardian class will view everyone in the city as part of their family, and their actions will be guided in promoting the interests of the society as a whole.
