Critical Appraisal of Plato's Theory of Justice
The focal point of Plato's Theory of Justice is the 'moral foundation of politics'. He was the greatest political philosopher of the time. He had envisaged an ideal state ruled by 'philosopher king'. In order to prepare a philosopher king he suggested his education system. And in order to make the ideal state he suggested a different style of living for the 'guardian class'. But, in modern world his ideas do not look fit because of the following reasons -
- Dilemma of dominance -
- Plato suggests division of social class on the basis of predominance of components of human nature - Desire, Emotion and Knowledge. He suggests that a person predominant with 'Desire or Temperance' is fit for 'trade and commerce', a person predominant with 'Emotion or Courage' is fit to become a 'soldier', and a person predominant with 'Knowledge' is fit to rule the state. But, in today's world, Plato idea does not fit for a number of reasons. First being the most of countries across the world are democratic today, and they promote 'equality of opportunity' among their citizens. A person from any walk of life, any social class, can become a ruler today. Only on the basis of knowledge one cannot become ruler. A person is to become a ruler is expected to have emotion, courage, knowledge, and so on. A person merely with knowledge cannot rule if he has no courage or emotion to take stringent decisions. He cannot defend his nation or state from external aggression. A person merely with knowledge, and devoid of will power cannot uplift the poor mass of his state.
2. Lack of confidence in society -
- Plato's idea of 'Communism of Property and Wives' is nothing but ridiculous in modern days. In this, Plato suggests for the 'guardian class' that there should be private wife and children. Rather, wives and husbands should be common, and children born of them will be put in the custody of the state, which will educate and nurtured by the sate so that they could be rendered into the state service. Furthermore, Plato suggests that property of the guardian class should be not be private ones. They will be surrendered to the state. The guardian class will have only as much property as is required for survival. These steps, according to Plato, will end corruption and there will be an ideal state in place.
- His conservative disciple, Aristotle, severely criticizes Plato for his bold decisions. Plato treated women on par with men to join the ranks of guardian class. Women had equal right of education as men. Aristotle terms it 'unrealistic'.
- Critics, like Karl Popper, call Plato a 'totalitarian'. Totalitarianism refers to a political outlook which upholds supreme authority of the state over all aspects of the life of its citizens. A totalitarian state tends to direct all political, economic, social-cultural and intellectual activities of people towards fulfilling certain aims which are determined by the state itself. Totalitarianism is antagonist of Democracy where no one has freedom of choice. But, our appraisal should not be based on what critics said about Plato. We should delve into the circumstances of the contemporary society. Plato's idea of justice, outlined in his Republic, was based on reason and understanding which was the requirement of the time. Therefore, it would not be fair to call him or his idea totalitarian.
Plato's ideal state was ruled by philosopher king. He wanted to establish a welfare state where the state fulfills the requirements of it subjects. But, the way he chose was different from that of modern days. He has his own education system, and 'communism of property and wives' to produce philosopher kings to rule the state. The system was perhaps the requirement of the society in the ancient Greek. Just as modern world leaders struggle to establish corruption free state, in the same way, Plato also has idea based on reasons, logic and understanding which makes him the first political philosopher.
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