Plato The Republic Analysis

Plato, being the pivot figure in the history of Western thought, established the compound, yet complete and multifaceted philosophical system, which methodology and perspicacious semantic substance laid the foundation for the future human development for hundreds of years to come, igniting curiosity in the minds of numerous scholars throughout history. Essential political ideas of Plato are predominantly expressed in his groundbreaking work “The Republic,” including the fundamental theoretical discussion of an ideal state that I am willing to analyze in my essay.

Plato’s idyllic Polis, resembling the human soul that incorporates the trinity of appetite, spirit, and reason, is composed of three types of inhabitants that correspond to each constituent

To begin with, an idea of the dissolution of the family institute in two highest classes, aimed at the creation of strong and emotionally stable citizens with no ties to relatives, may, in fact, have a reverse effect. Instead of releasing warriors and leaders from detrimental binding to sentimental nature of marital and parent-child relations, it may cause emotional vacuum due to lack of genuine family support and inner loneliness that one could not overcome with permitted relationships presented within the state. What is more, policies of “sacred marriage” for one night and eugenics exercised artificially by mendacious means between selected members could be in essence perceived as unethical not only in modern-day society, which values individualistic choices, but also could have been considered barbarian in former times based on historical occurrences that prove a notion that, in this case, means do not necessarily justify the end. Equally important, the censorship of art and literature would not purify the reason of youth, but instead create a motivation for undisclosed movements of illicit aesthetic expression, which could be possibly attributed to a totalitarian, rather than perfectly nonpareil, state. Lastly, the idea of an intense educational system appears contradictory to the conception of non-involvement of unenlightened masses in political control. Although profoundly educated philosopher-kings are supposed to have necessary skills for fruitful administration, ordinary people should have a voice when it comes to solving their problems and improving their position, if one longs for the state to be truly affluent and well-being of its citizens