Also because they are not in power, they will not have opportunity to be corrupt. Plato proceeds to note that although gymnastics aims at improving the body, it also helps healthy development of mind. It has also made some men brave. It simply hinders the hindrance which the ideal state faces. 2. Justice is not simply a moral goodness of human virtue, it has also political value. Deliberative faculty is not to be found in men of large number. Plato’s concept of justice has another drawback. By giving political power to the guardian classes and the economic power to the appetite class. The controversy is almost as old as civilization. In Republic he has said—our aim in founding the state was not disproportionate happiness of any one class, but the greatest happiness of the whole. In Plato’s realisation these persons will utilize education for furtherance of narrow and parochial interest and the greater objectives of state will be neglected. It acts as a control office upon the capacities of the individual. Both in Athens and Sparta some sort of communism existed in the form of state controlled private property and the produce was put to common use by the community. Plato believed that this interest would not arise in early age and that is why he recommended higher education for mature age only. According to Plato, education of the young is important. He has said that there are two parts of the human soul—inferior and superior part. The idea of communism is very old, and … Politics did not mean promoting one's personal interests. That is, Plato wants to emphasize that rule and subordination both must be based on agreement so that there cannot be any grievance. So, for the sake of the ideal state, feeling of unity must be encouraged and it should be nurtured from the very childhood. It is an identical quality which makes man good and which makes him social. “Undoubtedly the most original as well as the most characteristic proposal in The Republic is the system of higher education”—says Sabine. It is interesting to note that more than two thousand three hundred years ago Plato realized that private property and accumulation of wealth were the chief sources of discord and corruption in society. But habit depends upon the material conditions. They had no freedom and led a very secluded life. Further, since family was abolished, children would be taken away instantly from their parents, almost reminiscent of a modern image of a dystopian society. Plato thought of a state-controlled education. Education for the young will present heroic nature in its true and good form. He has prescribed communistic way of life only for rulers and soldiers and not for other classes or sections of society. This makes advent of righteousness easier. the philosophers and the warriors from the institutions of family and property. The central idea of the agreement is who will rule the state and who will obey. ( Log Out /  Plato’s communism aimed at making the Greek city state, a self sufficient properly governed unit. Plato’s communism is of two forms, viz., the abolition of private property, which included house, land, money, etc., and the second, the abolition of family, through the abolition of these two, Plato attempted to create a new social order wherein the ruling class surrendered both family and private property and embraced a system of communism. If one is neglected the other is likely to be affected. The impact of music upon mind is direct. Self-control implies that the inferior part should be submissive to the superior part. Sabine says that state-directed education scheme of Plato is perhaps the most important innovation. Therefore, it was political Communism and not economic communism. Plato, the First "Planner" Many people believe that this issue arose with the advent of socialism a century or so ago and was given its impetus and virulence by the communist class war dogma of Karl Marx. The philosopher king will take every care to establish justice. It is not true that it is harmful for any particular class and harmless for another class. He is part of the state or environment. “A communistic life, in the sense of a life divested of economic motive, is thus necessarily connected with and necessarily issues from, the proper position in the state of the two-higher elements of mind” Plato believed that the absence of communism would invite appetite. Legal provisions are necessary. Plato’s theory of education is “fascinatingly modern in many respects”. In Plato’s theory of ideal state there are several virtues or excellences and justice is one of them. We have already seen that the chief aim of education is to materialize the well-being and harmony of the state and, to fulfil this mission, education must be controlled by the state. The first of the two forms would be to set up a new form of hierarchy: Philosopher king, who would rule by merit of vision and capacity to realize that vision in reality. It requires clarification. In his opinion the units of arithmetic are not concrete counters presented by the senses; they are abstractions of the intelligence. Crime of impiety to Gods and corrupting the youth of Athens for asking embarrassing questions about those in power. God is the manifestation of good and truth and mythology containing the stories of God should be taught. When this is achieved, Plato says, justice in the society will start to reside. The first communist book was Plato's Republic, which took much of its inspiration from Sparta. Communism (from Latin communis common, universal) is a form of society in which there are no classes, no money,1 no state, and the means of production (tools, work materials, etc.) This could also indicate that a direct, true democracy is impossible in reality. Communism in property will make men’s mind fully suitable for the attainment of justice. It was the result of habit. Only among the gods there may not be any disagreement, but it is unthinkable to assume that people will never enter into conflict. The classes are related with their economic conditions. But it is unfortunate that he has not uttered a single word about the conflict or disagreement among the members of the same class or among the different classes. Without self-control justice can never be achieved. He thought that if each class were engaged in performing its own duty ordained by nature, then there should not arise any be no ground for dissatisfaction. The working… Get the answers you need, now! Plato thinks that human soul is responsive to its environments. Both in Athens and Sparta some sort of communism existed in the form of state controlled private property and the produce was put to common use by the community. level 2. Class is based on worth. His opinions are reflected in his equally respected student, Aristotle, when he wrote about the “historic victory” of mankind in “enslaving women.” Plato advocated for women to receive the same education as men, and that they should have the opportunity for the same pursuits. By advocating communism in property Plato wanted to materialize the divorce between economic power and political power. Women were confined to home. This practice of communism is only meant for the ruling class and the guardian class. Plato believed that the mathematical studies were con­nected with philosophy. It is a quality that enables man to enter into relation with other fellow citizens, and this relation forms human society which is the subject-matter of political science. Plato’s Theory of Communism Plato’s theory of communism was certainly a corollary of his conception of justice. He was not in a position to grant coexistence of opulence and poverty because in his judgment this is harmful for the state as a whole. Plato’s theory of communism is just opposite to Marxian theory of communism that seeks to eventually establish a classless and hence stateless society, as according to it the state is instrument of the domination in the hands of ruling classes. Plato's communism was ascetic, similar to the life found in a monastery, though many see this as a forerunner of modern-day socialism. AUGUST, 1942 . That is, it is architectonic in relation to other excellences. Because temptation or distraction will still remain. Plato was the first person to formulate a university course and suggested for state control of education system. . Plato was a philosopher of outstanding stature. This is then not only meant as a governmental theory, but an overarching theory for every aspect of life. The grown up people of guardian class will receive the education of science and philosophy. Plato assumes that as a result of the community of wives, the parentage of the children will remain unknown not only to their parents but also to the society. Its activities are, again, based on reason. In ancient Greek society the family life was private. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. He theorized that rulers having access to private property would make them self-seeking, greedy, and eventually corrupt. Plato’s theory of justice rules out the possibility of interference of law. It shows the limits of communism and the inevitability of certain concepts in such a society. The one is concerned with the external rules…the other with the ideas which lie behind rules and the ideals which lie behind order… Plato has blurred the distinction and confused the boundary which lies between the moral duty and legal obligations.” It may be emphasized that, without legal force, moral duty may not always find fruition. Plato has analyzed the virtues or nature of a good community. There can be harmony in the body politic if all the categories of persons and classes can practise self-control and adhere to their own appointed business. Plato wants to say that nature has made some men physically strong and other men intelligent and wise. A drama was produced on the communism in 406-480 BC. VITA AUCTORIS John Henry Reinke, S.J., was born at Covington, Kentucky, September 14, 1915. Domination of appetite is a great hindrance to the purification and goodness of the soul. The students must spend a part of their time in the study of pure philosophy. He believed that if the guardians and soldiers were engaged in the management of private property the whole interest of the body-politic will be adversely affected. Naturally this quality is treated as rare. Plato has observed the system of education found in Athens, also observed the system of education found in Sparta. Communism essentially means a systematic arrangement wherein society controls the production and distribution. Firstly, the rulers and philosophers must maintain selflessness, and family could be a hindrance to their ability to govern justly and effectively. The interest in philosophy is the first and foremost qualification of the higher education. Plato’s classes in the social life on the basis of functions are impracticable. Plato’s commentary about communism is very revealing. The primary object of education, Plato says, is to turn the eye, which the soul already possesses, to the light. When people will be mature, they will be taught science and philosophy. Platonic education begins with an early childhood. I'd recommend reading it, because all your objections are pointed out in the article itself. There is no doubt that he wanted to establish a corruption-free and discord-free society which is called the ideal state. In ancient Greek society which existed before Plato there was a form of communism in land. These classes are the result of education system. Plato’s theory of Communism Plato’s theory of communism is based on his belief of corrupting influences of family and property over people holding the public offices. Women were not allowed to meet men other than their husbands and to participate in the affairs of the state. Both require justice. We have already noted that Plato strongly advocated justice to prevent any civil dissension and discord among the several classes and individuals. Self-restraint is, therefore, essential for any political society. Plato abolished private family and property for the guardian class, for they encouraged nepotism, favoritism, particularism, factionalism and other corrupt practices among rulers. Many of the political ideas of Plato can be traced to his predecessors and the theory of communism is not an exception. Plato’s communism existed only for the governing class.... it was political communism and not economic communism. Plato's communism would take two main forms which meet in the abolition of the family. Elaborating Plato’s view on courage, Nettleship says that bravery is not in the battlefield alone, but the preservation under all circumstances of a right opinion. The purpose of higher education is to train the guardians and this will be given to a selected number of students between the ages of twenty and thirty-five. In The Republic, Plato has disapproved of making doctors, because they would only encourage diseases. When student is studying a subject he must remember the concept “The idea of the Good”. Plato's real name was Aristocles.He excelled in the study of music , mathematics ,poetry and rhetoric . Plato’s communism is of two forms, viz., the abolition of private property, which included house, land, money, etc., and the second, the abolition of family, through the abolition of these two, Plato attempted to create a new social order wherein the ruling class surrendered both family and private property and embraced a system of communism. Even today there is no scope to dispute with Plato in this regard. Plato has defined courage as the power of resisting fear. Part of the Plato’s communism actually reflected a caring for gender equality far ahead of his time. 6. It reforms the mind and broadens the whole outlook. In The Republic he says—”the beginning is the most important part of any work, especially in the case of a young and tender thing; for that is the time at which the character is being formed and the desired impression is more readily taken.”. Each class and each individual will do their duty and none will interfere with other’s activities. Plato’s concept of class is also different from Indian concept of caste. Remembering this fundamental idea Plato has sketched the scheme of education. Communism was born as military rule over a class of serfs. The guardian class endowed with wisdom will predominate over the entire society. In the entire Greek thought-system, including Plato’s, education is regarded as a social process. Plato's Republic posits a society which is hardly Communist. Plato has clarified the concept of self-control in a peculiar way. Plato’s communism is of two forms, viz., the abolition of private property, which included house, land, money, etc., and the second, the abolition of family, through the abolition of these two, Plato attempted to create a new social order wherein the ruling class surrendered both family and private property and embraced a system of communism. Such a division of society, the critics observe, will frustrate the noble and lofty purpose of communism. If property is abolished and family remains as before, people will be encouraged to acquire it, since without property family cannot be maintained. Generally the soldiers through their courageous activities can protect the integrity and unity of a state. Justice is Quality of Both Individual and State: Plato did not use the word justice in any legal sense. But Plato deserves the credit for communism of wives and property. Younger people should be taught mythological stories treating of the divine nature whose very essence is to be good and true. Communism does not mean to improve the living standard of people in the state, neither it applies to whole community. We may not agree with the view of Plato but we must say that there are certain clear and definite reasons in his concept of communism.
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