Plato’s Theory of the State

1. Plato’s Theory of the State

2. Background • Greek city-state: a human being is a political animal. • The State is composed of individual human beings and exists for the leading of the good life: there is an absolute moral code that rules all people and all States: expediency must bow the knee to Right.

3. The Republic • The task of the Republic: to discover the Ideal State, the pattern to which every actual State ought to conform itself, so far as it can. • The original end of the city is an economic end, and from this follows the principle of the division and specialization of labor.

4. Social Classes in the City • In case of war: a special class of guardians of the State. • Education: starting with music, narrative and philosophy. • Leader of the city: true ‘guardian.’

5. In Search for A Leader • Leaders of the city must have knowledge of what is really true and good – in other words, they must be philosophers. • Thus, the ideal State will consists of three great classes (from below): • the Artisans • The Auxiliaries or military class • the Guardian(s)

6. Justice in the State • The wisdom of the State: in the small class of rulers or Guardians • The courage of the State: in the Auxiliaries • The temperance of the State: in the due subordination of the governed to the governing • The justice of the State: in that everyone attends to his own business without interfering with anyone’s else’s.

7. The Allegory of the Cave • Entry to Cave • X Fire • Raised way Little wall or screen • Row of prisoners •   Wall on which shadows are thrown