Ideal State By Plato

The most outstanding contribution of Plato's political thought, as contained in the "Republic", is the representation of human life in a state perfected by justice and govern according to the idea of the Good (stall bacon). It has been lauded as a perfect model for the actual state, an ideal political system to do away with the ills of a contemporary social order. In this time plato's presents a picture of an ideal state. It finds its place in the impact that he received form the contemporary conditions of the Greece.

Ideal State By Plato

The State

Plato's state was meant to be the state i.e. a type or model for all times and climes. Plato wanted to show what in principle the state ought to be. He wanted to give the idea of the state, not worrying about the practically of the idea.

Plato's philosophical views had many societal implications, especially on the idea of an ideal state or government. There is some difference between his early and later views. Some of the most famous policies are contained in the Republic during his middle period, as well as in the Laws and the Statesman.

Objectives of the Ideal State

The objective of the ideal state at Plato is the "Good life" Plato build his ideal state in three successive ways. The first ways he shows that men are different in degree only and not in kind. They should have same eduction and should share the same public functions. In the second ways, Plato  advocates the abolition of the family on the basis of communism of property and wives. In the third wave he interdicted the rule of philosophy. Knowledge is virtue and therefore the salvation of society depends on government by philosopher rulers. The following are the specific objective of ideal state.

1. To ensure justice.
2. To create and ideal citizenship model.
3. Equality for all through communism.
4. State regulated education system.
5. Confirming reciprocity and unity.
6. Make good life.

Population of Ideal State

1. Producer Class: Producer class which represents the abdomen. It was also called the workers. Example: The laborers, carpenters, plumbers, masons, merchants, farmers, ranchers, etc. These correspond to the "appetite" part of the soul.
2. Warriors Class: Those who are adventurous, strong and brave; in the armed forces. These correspond to the "spirit" part of the soul.
3. Philosopher Class: Those who are intelligent, rational, self-controlled, in love with wisdom, well suited to make decisions for the community. These correspond to the "reason" part of the soul and are very few.

According to Plato construction of an ideal state

The three elements of human personality	The varieties of human being	Three class of social order
Reason(philosophy)	Man of god-rulers (philosophers)	Military class (guardian)
Sprit(courage)	Man of silver-soldiers (fighters)	Military class(auxiliary guardian)
Desire(appetite)	Man of iron and brass(husband man, traders and workers)	Economic class(toilers, artisans)

Plato's ideal state represents a new social order in which the upper into owner classes live in a state of special regimentation, representing the elements of reason and spirit. They are made to remove the elements of appetite. This is to be done through a system of communism of property and communism of family.

Plato, through the words of Socrates, asserts that societies have a three-way class structure corresponding to the appetite/spirit/reason structure of the individual soul. The appetite/spirit/reason stands for different parts of the body. The body parts symbolize the castes of society.

According to this model, the principles of Athenian democracy (as it existed in his day) are rejected as only a few are fit to rule. Instead of rhetoric and persuasion, Plato says reason and wisdom should govern. As Plato puts it:

"Until philosophers rule as kings or those who are now called kings and leading men genuinely and adequately philosophize, that is, until political power and philosophy entirely coincide, while the many natures who at present pursue either one exclusively are forcibly prevented from doing so, cities will have no rest from evils,... nor, I think, will the human race." (Republic 473c-d).

 

Plato describes these "philosopher kings" as "those who love the sight of truth" (Republic 475c) and supports the idea with the analogy of a captain and his ship or a doctor and his medicine. According to him, sailing and health are not things that everyone is qualified to practice by nature. A large part of the Republic then addresses how the educational system should be set up to produce these philosopher kings.

According to Plato, a state made up of different kinds of souls will, overall, decline from an

1. Aristocracy (rule by the best):  Aristocracy is the form of government advocated in Plato's Republic. This regime is ruled by a philosopher king, and thus is grounded on wisdom and reason.
2. Timocracy (rule by the honorable): In timocracy the ruling class is made up primarily of those with a warrior-like character. In his description, Plato has Sparta in mind.
3. Oligarchy (rule by the few): Oligarchy is made up of a society in which wealth is the criterion of merit and the wealthy are in control.
4. Democracy (rule by the people): In democracy, the state bears resemblance to ancient Athens with traits such as equality of political opportunity and freedom for the individual to do as he likes.
5. Tyranny (rule by one person, rule by a tyrant): It is characterized by an undisciplined society existing in chaos, where the tyrant rises as popular champion leading to the formation of his private army and the growth of oppression.

 

Criticism

1. An ideal state is a hypothetical concept.
2. If everyone gets equal advantage then all don’t work properly.
3. Plato cannot describe anything specifically.
4. Always state get priority.
5. Monopoly of force they decide to use.