Summarise the idea of Plato's Republic. What objections have been raised against it?

Summarise the idea of Plato's Republic. What objections have been raised against it?


Summarise the idea of Plato's Republic. What objections have been raised against it?


  

         Ans. At the age of 40 Plato presented his "The Republic". This work was prepared in 10 years. In it, as it clear by its name, Plato has drawn pictures of an ideal state. It should be remembered here that democracy is not that that ideal form of government according to Plato. His ideal state was not based upon the observation of different types of states but upon reasoning, experience, examination, comparison and finally criticism. The Republic is not so much of political science as a treatise on education and justice. It has been widely praised by ancient and modern scholars alike. According to Barker, "It is an attempt at complete philosophy of man".

        In the words of Sakine, "In it practically every side of Plato's philosphy is toched upon or developed and itls range of subject matter is such that it may be said to deal with the whole of human life". In this work the books first and second are the elementary and discuss the nature of justice and moral duty. The books second, third and fourth discuss the system of education and the different classes in society. The books fifth, sixth and seventh have presented the concept of communism and the philosophical bases of an ideal state. The books eight and ninth discuss the deformities of the state and the citizens. The tenth book discusses Plato's philosophy of art and his theory of soul. Thus it is clear that the Republic was an attempt at a complete philosophy of human life. Among the most important problems discussed in the Republic are nature of justice, nature of virtue, system of education, ideal citizens, ideal government, ideal state and the means to realise all these. Plato was not satisfied with the contemporary system of government in Athens. This government was in the hands of selfish and ignorant rulers. Keeping these defects in view Plato has drawn a picture of welfare state. Thus the Republic is a mixture of ethics and politics. Besides giving a fiew of the contemporary political system it presents the ideal state of Plato's imagination.

The following arguments have been advanced against the Republic of Plato :

        1. Utopian Ideal: The ideal state of the Republic is utopian. It can not be applied to existing states. In fact, no ideal of a state can be equally valid in all times.

        2. Applicable to small states: The optimum population of an ideal state, according to Plato is 5040. It goes without saying that this can not be applied to any existing state.

        3. Negligence of law: By entrusting the ideal state to the philosopher king Plato neglected the value of the law. This can not be accepted by the modern political scientists.

        4. Absolute power corrupts absolutely: By entrusting absolute power of the state in the hands of the philosopher king Plato made a scope for a lot of corruption. He forgot the psychological dictum that absolute power corrupts absolutely. 

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