Analysis Of Plato’s Vision Of Politics
Politics is the beliefs on how a society should be Governed, and the ways that it is affecteddue to the personal relationships - between individuals who must work together. The following essay will prove that Plato clearly had a vision of what politics should be. He does this by creating a utopian state – Which has the political system of an aristocracy, and citizens who work in unison – however separately.
In politics, the way that a society is affected due to the personal relationships between individuals is often discussed. Socrates believed that in order for the Kallipolis to function, itscitizens needed to be separated into three distinct groups. Their professions and duties intertwining would place consequences on the success of the Kallipolis. This is evident in thefollowing quote. “But I imagine that when someone who is, by nature, a craftsman or someother sort of moneymaker is puffed up by wealth, or by having a majority of votes, or by hisown strengths, or by some other such thing, and attempts to enter the class of soldiers; orwhen one of the soldiers who is unworthy to do so tries to enter that of judge and guardian, and these exchange their tools and honors; or when the same person tries to do all these things at once, then I imagine you will agree that these exchanges and this meddling destroythe city. ” As seen here, when Socrates justifies his concepts of an ideal city he does notproceed in a harsh manner but rather in an understanding, responsive way. He not onlybelieves that in order for a city to function each member must only focus on his duties, butthat he was born to play that role. “We are not all born alike. On the contrary, each of us differssomewhat in nature from the others, one being suited to one job, another to another. ” He is open to the ideas of others, and listens to their reasoning. He then either agrees or disagreesin a way that clearly explains his reasoning. “You are absolutely right. And do you thinkAdeimantus, that anyone, whether god or human, would deliberately make himself worse inany way?” We can see through this quotation, that there are times when Socrates agreeswith others and when this occurs, he does not just carry on again with his own views butinstead he questions the individual even more in order to dig deeper. The three groups beingthe merchants, the auxiliaries and the Guardians. The merchants are the individuals who domost of the labour. The auxiliaries are those who are brave and loyal, and act as a protection ofthe state. And the Philosopher kings are those who are filled with goodness, and have no spacewithin them for greed and corruption.
Socrates describes a city where all citizens works in unison in order to create a peacefulsociety. For example, he believes in order for it to function the citizens need to share. TheKallipolis is a place where the citizens do not only produce for themselves, but they mustproduce enough for the others. “Our citizens, then, must produce not only enough forthemselves at home, but also goods of the right quality and quantity to satisfy the needs ofothers. ” We can see here that Socrates wishes to limit the amount of feud within theKallipolis, and tries to come up with a Political system where the event of an issue isimpossible.
The Kallipolis has a Aristocratic political system where the power is vested into a minority, who are believed to be the best qualified. These Philosopher Kings are believed to be the mostqualified due to years of training and education, they would be chosen based oncharacteristics observed within them as a child. “So let’s never include a person with aforgetful soul among those who are sufficiently philosophical; the one we look for should begood at remembering. ” Here Socrates explains that without the Philosopher Kings, theKallipolis will not be able to succeed. He claims that they are capable of Governing andcommanding others since they are the wisest. “Until Philosophers rule as kings in their cities, or those who are nowadays called kings and leading men become genuine and adequatephilosophers so that political power and philosophy become thoroughly blended together, while the numerous natures that now pursue either one exclusively are compelled not to doso, cities will have no rest from evils. ”
The kallipolis is a place where education is strictly monitored and supervised. Socratesbelieves this to be the best way to create a ruler whose mind is free of corruption andunnecessary thoughts. Therefore, it is an Aristocratic, oblivious society which Socrates wishesto create. Meaning the minds of the rulers will be limited, in the sense that they are restrictedto certain information. In result, creating a barrier - limiting the mind's ability to go beyond acertain thought. We can see this clearly within the following quotation. “Shall we carelesslyallow our children to hear any old stories made up by just anyone, then and to take beliefs intotheir souls that are for the most part, the opposite of the ones we think they should hold whenthey grow up?”
After assessing the work of Plato, it is clear that Socrates had a clear vision of what politicsshould be, which he defines while constructing the Kallipolis. The perfect political state wouldbe one where each individual is born into a certain role. In order for the society to function, hemust only tend to the duties of that role. For Socrates happiness is seen in participation in awell organized and sustainable Political community. Politics not only describes the way asociety is affected due to the relationships between its individuals, but also the beliefs on howit should be Governed - or who it should be governed by. Socrates believed that the Kallipolisshould be governed by the most educated of men, who are chosen based on the characteristicsthey show as a child. When defining all of this Socrates goes about it in a peaceful manner, where his thoughts are well explained and his ears are open to all opinions. His behaviourhelps us understand why it is that the Kallipolis is built on a foundation of communication, contribution and distribution.
