... of everyone according to his or her own ability, in order to improve the over all production possibility of society is a basic Communist concept. Many attributes and ideas in Plato's dialogue The Republic can be seen chronologically later in governments and political systems of Totalitarianism, Communism and egalitarianism. The concept of equality for all, including education, and other government ... provided services is a very important part of egalitarian system. However, some traces of Communism and Totalitarianism can also be seen in Plato's dialogue. Plato suggests that every memb...

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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... maker's create an idea of truth. Finally there are the imitators. The imitators are the third descendent from the truth. Homer was considered an imitator. Plato writes: Well, I will tell you, although I have from my earliest youth had an awe and love of Homer which even now makes the words ... and teacher of the whole noble tragic company; but a man is not to be reverenced more then the truth, and therefore I will speak out. (2) Although Plato had a love for Homer, he felt Homer painted a false picture with his poetry. Homer's poetry was very descriptive, "Now stripping back his rags Od...

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• Grade Level: High School

... is considered to mean equality, in oligarchies, again inequality in the distribution of office is considered to be just, " says Aristotle (Hacker 91). Plato sees the justice and law as what sets the guidelines for societal behavior. Aristotle puts emphasis on the institution of the polis (Hacker 77). This ... polis (Hacker 77). The polis was set up to allow political participation on the part of the average citizen (Hacker 80). This contradicts Plato's theory of one ruling class controlling the political power and all decisions that effect the entire society. The theory of Democracy that...

• Word Count: 1212
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... maker's create an idea of truth. Finally there are the imitators. The imitators are the third descendent from the truth. Homer was considered an imitator. Plato writes: Well, I will tell you, although I have from my earliest youth had an awe and love of Homer which even now makes the words ... and teacher of the whole noble tragic company; but a man is not to be reverenced more then the truth, and therefore I will speak out. (2) Although Plato had a love for Homer, he felt Homer painted a false picture with his poetry. Homer's poetry was very descriptive, "Now stripping back his rags Od...

• Word Count: 734
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... 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 ... 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 adminis...

• Word Count: 845
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• Grade Level: High School

... he was Socrates' student, creating the idea of fundamental conflicts between what could be known by reason and what could be known by senses. Plato's most famous writings include the "Republic", where we can learn about his beliefs including ethics, political philosophy, moral psychology, epistemology, ... and metaphysics. The Metaphor of the Divided Line also created by Plato represents the levels of knowledge one can obtain. From this metaphor comes the Forms, and how the understanding of this Forms and applying them ... state of becoming. The forms are invisible to the eye, in the i...

• Word Count: 1112
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• Grade Level: High School

... supposedly wise, to show that they were not. He thought that this questioning would eventually lead to knowledge though, which is virtuous and thereby truthful. Plato's view was somewhat different. He declares that to gain truth you must be passionately devoted to seeking it. You must have a love of truth to ... He also thought that no human could be all knowing or wise, so he must not believe that one person could see all truth. I believe Plato would have seen things differently, he thought there was one truth and we all possessed it to some extent. I think he would say that the ... s...

• Word Count: 1224
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• Grade Level: High School

... as its government, its people's lifestyles, and the ideals of Greeks during this time period. Most of the dialogues in Plato's work are written in the form of debates. Plato's views of Greek society may differ from those with less education. Plato was a well-educated man for his time which could make his opinions of society somewhat biased. Although it is possible that ... Plato's opinions are biased much of the information the book contains is relatively factual. Religion is a part of every society. There is evidence in Book II of "The Republic" supporting the ... "[envy] the other c...

• Word Count: 717
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... also some differences politically behind their theories, which ends up being the result of how they view human beings and their roles within society. In Plato's 'The Republic," each person in society served a function and had a job that suited their personality. He believed that the natural ... occur. The guardians would ensure that those desires stayed in check and that one person would not gain more then another. The way Plato's theoretical human conditioning works is that human beings represent a natural order whereas the guardians (supreme philosophers) are at the top of the .....

• Word Count: 1234
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... this work is to me. It will help an individual understand his or her philosophical aspect. The reason people today read this material from Plato is each person experiences these situations of pressure, fear, and of being informed of such experiences. This work gives a person a look on ... a life-changing experience; the real test is to not have fear returning home or to the routine of earlier years. Similarities between our society and Plato's era, is people no matter what time period, experience fear, happiness, pressure, and learn to adapt to ones surroundings. However in the 4th Cent...

• Word Count: 709
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• Grade Level: High School

... a criticism of any given individual within that society; the imperfect character. He has already dealt with the Oligarchic society and character and now moves onto Democracy and the democratic character. Plato states that the Oligarchy, where the ultimate desire is for wealth and character governs emotions without reason, will ultimately collapse and become a Democracy. The lower, drone class are exploited by ... some form of external force to aid their struggle. Therefore, democracy originates when the poor win, kill or exile their opponents, and give the rest equal civil rights and oppo...

• Word Count: 545
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... , many did not agree with Socrates teachings. He was accused of corrupting the youth in Athens and sentenced to death. One of Socrates most famous students, Plato, established a second school of thought. Flourishing around 400 B. C., Plato contradicted his teacher in that he left many writings, his most famous being The Republic. He believed that a higher world of unchanging forms and ideas existed ... government. After much comparison, he believed that the latter type of government worked the best for most people. Aristotle went on to be a tutor for Alexander the Great. Aristotle, unlik...

• Word Count: 678
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• Grade Level: High School

... to survive in today's economic society. We accept what they teach, and do not question why because we do not know for sure what lies ahead. Plato symbolizes this when he writes "human beings living in an underground den, which has a mouth open towards the light their legs and neck chained so that ... and many are not ready for the change. We are eventually able to meet the challenge; we settle into our routine and welcome the next challenge. Plato sums this up when he writes "when any of them is liberated and compelled to suddenly stand up and turn his neck around and look towards the ....

• Word Count: 588
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... his ship. The captain can not be expected to understand and run all aspects of their everyday city operation just as the ruler can not be. Plato's captain is not given credit for his work and functions onboard a ship. Not all captains/leaders suffer from "blindness" about what is happening under ... from making fun of Socrates in the paragraph before to agreeing with everything Socrates says in fragments of sentences for the next couple of pages. Plato and Socrates see their position in Athenian democracy as a educator too as much of the society as possible; by walking around and talkin...

• Word Count: 1223
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... be considered that the way Socrates percieves the equality of the two genders is a positive feature however the way he divides people in a society cannot be approved. In Plato's Republic, there is an argument about whether men and women should do the same things because they both are able to. He states that " if it's apparent ... men may have the same talent about the same thing or they both may not have the talent. Talent does not depend on gender. As a conclusion Plato is right to think that women and men should do the same things under these circumstances. And he concludes that " there...

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"Philosophical Query" A society living in harmony, no problems, one ruler who would be for the rich and for the poor. This is an example of Plato's view of a perfect society or what we know as a Utopia. Even though this outlook was originated by one of the greatest Philosophers it is nearly impossible for it to be ... attained in the world today. As stated in the book Plato's view of a democracy (Government Present today) is the rule of a wealthy few. Why does Plato view this as a bad form of government? The leader of a society is rich, therefore he only makes laws and or rules that apply ......

• Word Count: 446
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• Grade Level: High School

Plato's Allegory of the Cave is Book VII in his much larger work, The Republic. The Allegory of the Cave is a conversation between Socrates and Glaucon, the former telling us what he believes about reality and how we have a false interpretation of reality. It is an extended metaphor full of symbolis...

• Word Count: 587
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

Plato's Allegory of the Cave is Book VII in his much larger work, The Republic. The Allegory of the Cave is a conversation between Socrates and Glaucon, the former telling us what he believes about reality and how we have a false interpretation of reality. It is an extended metaphor full of sym...

• Word Count: 598
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... inequality is still a fair society. In order to bring people successfully to their well-fit occupations, education plays an important role in Plato's argument. What Plato mentions in his theory of education is that, a selection process is involved. This system can ensure the quality of the individuals so ... should be allowed to choose their own preference and they should have the equal rights in determining their directions. However, according to Plato's ideology, arranging people into their appropriate positions according to their innate aptitudes is far more reasonable than letting ...

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... hoped above all else to practice virtues, such as wisdom, moderation, courage, and justice, in order to preserve a sustainable and prosperous society. In Plato's "Kallipolis ", he portrayed a society in which humans were placed into one of three classes "those who worked, those who fought at war, ... he went on to state the importance of individuals staying within their respective groups and performing their appropriate duties, and nothing else. Clearly, Plato believed that the perfect state could only prosper if the individual subjugated his own will to that of society. He stressed the...

• Word Count: 712
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... , these are known as laws. Virtues also mold the individual outlook on life, and give them the moral's to do what is right. In The Republic, Plato divides the city into three classes: gold, silver, as well as bronze and iron souls. Each class is designated to posses a specific virtue. He believes that ... the various kinds of knowledge ought to be called wisdom, has, as it seems, the fewest members by nature" (429a). The second virtue that Plato defines is courage, which in Greek terms is "Andreia". Courage is the preservation of the opinion produced by law, through education about what ...

• Word Count: 605
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• Grade Level: High School

... be better regulated; because once they and the children become disorderly, it becomes impossible to produce serious citizens with a respect for order?"" - Plato Republic, 424e Plato argues that the reasonable men in his republic will learn to be so only through a system of education and upbringing that is strictly controlled. ... This is important to Plato because reasonable men will then understand and accept their position in the Republic. One danger in this equation is the presence of disorder ... disorder. The goal of the educational system is to produce "serious citizens" who und...

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... well known philosophers in their time and they still are today. Like all leaders, Socrates and Plato had their strengths and weaknesses. These strengths and weaknesses worked to balance each one of their lives. Nobody can be strong without being weak at some ... vision and couldn"t see it. Not that what he was saying was harmful, but for as wise as he was, he couldn"t see his own footsteps. Plato greatest strength was his ability to learn from his teachers and then draw his own conclusions while writing down his thoughts. Unlike Socrates ... , Plato wrote all his philosophy down includ...

• Word Count: 296
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... in fact instated the proper formulation of this concept of synchronized, cooperative, and rule abiding society by a means of a structured ruling body. Plato has his theory of a sort of tyranny of the intellectuals, Mills has his theory of happiness and preservation of nature, that should rise ... turn a direct result of a government having promoted these intention (malicious or not). A just dictatorship may sound ludicrous simply by its mere definition, yet Plato went as far as promoting it as a model for a perfectly harmonized society. His idea that philosophy was the path to a sort of ...

• Word Count: 527
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... , but is this because they don't actually do what they set out to do or because of inherent flaws in the ideal of democracy? In Plato's Republic Socrates sets out an alternative method of government - the meritocracy. Again this ideal has its practical problems, but how does the ideal compare ... pick"n"mix - a stint of teaching here and a dash of construction work before you help yourself to a large handful of politics. This is one of Plato's biggest gripes. He feels that you should be given a balanced meal - the right work, the right education regardless of what you think yourself. In ...

• Word Count: 1059
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• Grade Level: High School