Plato's "Republic" is the most important work in the history of Western Philosophy. One could spend hours counting how many subsequent philosophies arouse from either his direct words or interpretations. Of all Western Philosophers, Plato was one of the greatest writers. Even though most may find his dialogues exhausting, I found it enjoyable because of the brilliant yet controversial words. Nearly every western philosophy flows directly through Plato'sRepublic.? It dealt with issues such as politics, psychology, anthropology, and equal rights for women. These issues were years before his time. All these being equal, perhaps Plato's greatest thoughts dealt with his ideas of a Model society. Let me elaborate.
In part nine of Plato'sThe Republic,? Plato discusses the ideal society and how it would fair in today's modern world. His notion of the society degenerates into four imperfect forms of government, and he goes on to describe that type of character traits found that would appear to each form. He says that the happier person would exist in the ideal society and the unhappier person would exist in the further degeneration of the ideal, which would be tyranny. .
The structure of Plato's society is made up of three parts and is hierarachichial. It's made of the philosophers kings as the rulers, the auxiliaries who will be in military role, and the artisans who will produce the products and goods necessary for economic growth.
The philosopher rulers duties as administrators in Plato's? society or commonwealth are to legislate, educate and to keep an ever watchful eye on the auxiliaries and artisans, paying special attention to the auxiliaries, especially those that are considered fit to be future philosopher rulers. All auxiliaries will be subjected to a series of tests, which will check their powers of resistance to self-interest, pleasure and other temptations. .
Furthermore, according to Plato's model society, the philosopher ruler will make certainroyal lies? or myths to be told to the commonwealth.
