Plato's Ideal State | Plato's political philosophy for CSS Aspirants | CSS Political Science | Western Political thought

 Q1. What is Plato's Ideal State?
Q2. What is Plato's concept of justice? (CSS 2021)

1. Introduction

*Always start your CSS questions with an introduction*

Plato was a student of highly revered philosopher Socrates. Plato himself authored three books: "Statesman", "Republic", and "The Laws". In his book "Republic", Plato conceived an Ideal State based on the concept of justice.

2. Context of Plato's political philosophy

In CSS Political Science 1 section A questions, it is advisable to give a context of philosopher's thought. Giving a context reflects on the prevalent conditions at that time which led to a political philosophy.

Plato was in his 20s when the Peloponnesian war between Athens and Sparta had just ended. Sparta, which had a monarchy, was able to defeat Athens, which was a direct democracy. Hence, Plato considered Athenian political structure to be weak. Further, under Athens restored direct democracy Socrates was executed for being too outspoken. Execution of Socrates led to Plato developing a distaste for Athenian direct democracy, considering it a bad system which could not teachers like Socrates.

3. What is Ideal State?

Plato in his book the Republic, conceived an ideal state. Ideal State according to Plato is based on the concept of justice. Ideal state is the one where there is harmony between the three classes of a society and between the three elements of a soul. According to Plato, Ideal State must have a population 5040.

3.1) Tripartite of soul

Plato begins his theory by positing that there are three elements in an individual soul. These are: reason, spirit and appetite. Plato further theorizes that only one of these elements is dominant in any particular individual. Plato gives an extensive education system in order to ascertain which individuals are strong in which elements.

3.2) Three classes of a society

Plato further propounds that corresponding to these three elements of a soul are three classes in a society. These three classes are:

• Philosopher Kings/ Guardians
• Auxiliaries/ Warrior class
• Peasants/ Artisan

Philosopher kings must be responsible for overlooking the affairs of the State.
Auxiliaries must be responsible for protecting the State against internal and external aggression.
Peasants must be responsible for producing goods consumed by everybody.

3.3) What is concept of justice?

Plato's concept of justice is rooted in division of labor, that is each individual doing what he is most fitted to do. This, according to Plato, means that those individuals who are strong in reason become philosopher kings, those strong in spirit become warriors and those strong in appetite becoming artisans. Plato further states that each individual performing a function according to his instinct would result in harmony between his three elements of soul and resultantly create a harmony between the three classes of the State. This, according to Plato, is justice.

3.4) Philosophers must be Kings

In order to be a good guardian, a man must be by nature fast, spirited and a strong philosopher. - The Republic

Plato propounds that philosophers must be kings, intellectually because the love wisdom and would be willing to do justice and morally because they would not be corrupted by lust for power.  

3.5) System of communism

3.5.1) Common renunciation of property

Plato also introduces a strict system of communism in his ideal state. He posits that the financial power must not be laid in the hands of the upper two classes and rather everything should be state owned. This, according to Plato, is important because if having control over financial power would corrupt the philosopher kings, therefore, it was important that philosopher kings and auxiliaries not have access to private property.

3.5.2) Common ownership of family

Plato also introduces communism of family in his ideal state. This is that the upper two classes must not be allowed to have families. For Plato, family is a source of distraction and stands in the was of true dispensation of duties. Rather, Plato says, that individuals must be mated with individuals of same mental capacity and the child born must be given under the care of State mother.

4)Critique on Plato's work

*As CSS students, if you want to score high marks in Political Science CSS, you must do critique on the philosopher's works through the works or ideas of other philosophers. It must be an expert's critique not your own.*

Critique on Plato's Ideal State can be found in Aristotle's "Polis", where Aristotle criticizes Plato's concept of communism and lambasts him for trying to make the society too uniform. Aristotle says that the life in a city must be different from life in barracks.