Related questions:
v What are the major problems of Plato’s political philosophy?
INTRODUCTION
The major concern of this write-up is Plato’s political philosophy which has been simply summarized as the “rule of the best man”. However plausible this may sound, it would be wrong to believe that this political ideology has no inherent faults; Hence, the purpose of this write-up.
PLATO’S POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY: A BRIEF SUMMARY
Plato, a pupil of Socrates, bases his political philosophy on the concept of justice. He usually had discussions with some of his contemporaries of which Thrasymachus was a part. Thus, the varying ideas on what justice is, was a triggering element for Plato’s own philosophical conception of justice.
· Thrasymachus’ view of justice
Basically, the sophist declares that “...justice is nothing but the advantage of the stronger”. Thus, what the weak calls justice, is really slavery. This idea can be found in Plato’s book the “republic”.
· Justice, according to Plato
Now, in response to such views as Thrasymachus’, Plato in the republic gives his theory of what he conceives as justice.
i. Justice in the man
Plato theorizes that everyman is composed of three parts, the “nous” –reason, the “thumos”-chest and the “epithumia”-appetite. Hence, for a man to become just there must be a balanced agreement of his rationality, bravery and desire; in order to be good.
ii. Justice in the state
In a somewhat similar fashion, for Plato, an ideal state is an organised combination of the guardians, the soldiers and the artisans. When each person plays his own part obligatorily well, then there will be justice in the state.
iii. The philosopher king
Finally, Plato advocates that for the ideal state to be maintained, a skilful ruler who has been properly trained, aside other things, but mainly in philosophy, be made to oversee the political affairs of the state. For Plato, the best man or the philosopher king, alone has the intellectual arsenal to guide the citizens to rightfully institute justice.
THE MAJOR PROBLEMS OF PLATO’S POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
Certainly, there are more than one problems of Plato’s ideal state, which has been described as being too “utopian”. Nevertheless, we will be focusing on only one and that is; Plato’s prescription on the financial and material state of the guardians and it’s implication in their desire or appetitive part.
· The financial state of the guardians
In the “republic”, Plato prescribes that, “...the guardians must live, in poverty, with any possessions they do have held in common”. This prescription seems absurd, but Plato’s reason is simple, and that is, to prevent the peasants from being envious of the power of the guardians who could use it to obtain many goods and pleasure for themselves.
· The implication of Plato’s prescription
On a closer look, one would find that Plato himself has erroneously contradicted his standard for justice in the man. His above prescription shows his disregard for the fact that, guardians like every other natural human has desires and are not likely to be happy in a circumstance that does deny the existence of desire.
In addition, a just man is meant to have a balanced position of the three parts, if not then, according to Plato, he is not just. But, in this case Plato’s prescription cheats on the appetitive part of his philosopher king; hence, there can be no such thing as a just balance.
· The dilemma of Plato’s prescription
Now, the question is asked, “according to Plato’s standard for justice in a man, and considering also his above prescription, can the philosopher king be just”? Even though Plato has a good reason for his prescription, he probably failed to consider its effect on the nature of justice in the philosopher king. Hence, if the guardian lives in poverty, he cannot be just (for it contradicts his appetitive part). And, if the philosopher king is not just, how can he then oversee or influence a just state?
Hence, the problem probably lies in the fact that Plato focused solely on just one part in a man (reason) that he himself postulated has three parts (reason, chest, appetite).
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CONCLUSION
Consequently, the major problem explained thus far as regarding Plato’s political philosophy is that, his life for the guardians violates human nature, just as Plato himself defined it. This would make the guardians unhappy and this negates the goal of virtue in Plato’s ethics. Above all, Plato’s political philosophy still has positive parts.
