Plato

428-348 BC - Athens in a Aristocratic family. In the time of the "Peloponnesian War" between Athens and Sparta. Athens had "direct democracy", individualism, open and somewhat chaotic society.

Death sentence to "Socrates", defeat by Sparta, and fragmented and opiniated nature of social life affected his thinking.

Father of Idealist Tradition.

He founded the "Academy" - the 1st European University.

Wrote 36 books (35 dialogues and 13 letters)

1. Republic - concerning justice - 386 BC
2. Statesman - 360 BC
3. Laws - 347 BC
4. Timaeus
5. Apology

Cruz of his thoughts

1. Virtue is knowledge through which objective truth can be known;
2. The visible world of our senses carry the copy/shadow of essence of true forms which is of intelligible world - can only be seen by reason/knowledge;
3. Justice is harmony and balance of individual soul as well as of the society;
4. Justice is just order, doing what one is best in doing and supposed to do for having good (fulfilled) life;
5. Ideal state is just, harmonious, unified - help individual live good life;

Theory of Forms

Forms of ideas are "essence" and "reality" of every observable object by our senses. Forms are "eternal" and "unchangeable", "absolutely true" definitions of concepts, belong to "intelligible world", represent "true/real knowledge", can be known by "reason".

[Ideas or Forms can be fully known by knowledge]

Objects (observable world) are copy or shadow of their form. Thoughts in visible world is belief, opinion, imagining; not true knowledge/form. [their is a ideal state (form), get it through just, harmonious, unified society/state]

[Idealism, Essentialism, Metaphysics]

Idea of the Good

1. "Good" is the supreme form, all other 'Forms' subordinate to it;
2. Idea of the Good is the end/goal or fulfillment or purpose for which all things exist;
3. It alone gives intelligibility, truth, and goodness to all the other forms; like "Sum", whose light all other things made visible;
4. According to Him, Good that is "The universal author of all things beautiful and right, parent of light and of the lord of light in this world, and the source of truth and reason in the other."
5. "The good is not essence but far exceeds essence in dignity and power";
6. End/Goal purpose of human life is to lead Good life, purpose of community/state to help individual lead good life;
7. Individual is duty bound to work for "Common Good" of the Society/state;

Analogy of Divided Line and The Cave

Theory of Justice

1. Justice denote right conduct, morality, duty, harmony - doing what brings happiness, fulfillment in both individual and social life;
2. Justice is prime virtue which guide other virtues - wisdom, courage, temperance (self-control);
3. A bond which holds a society together - makes man harmonious, good, and social;
4. Justice is natural, universal, NOT artificial, remedial, legal or conventional;
5. What is not justice - legal rights, giving each man his due, speaking truth, being honest, doing right things (goo to friends and harm to enemies); it is neither in the interest of strong or weaker;

Justice: Private and Public Virtue

Justice Individual:

1. Justice of the soul: "Reason" governing the "Spirited" element and the bodily "Appetites"; needs of 3 elements of the soul are fulfilled harmoniously;
2. "balance" or "harmony" in the soul is the justice of the soul, the soul's morality or virtue and its product is happiness/fulfillment, good life;
3. Individual who perform social duty what is best suited to him for common Good;

Just Society/State:

1. Specialization (Ruler, auxiliary, producer class), division of labor, excellence of self and the State;
2. Each one should perform social duty for which one is best fitted by nature;
3. Society as unified whole, each individual help achieve fulfilled self-life as well as common Good;
4. Justice as bond between individual and society, help achieve highest good of the individual (private), and of the whole society (public);

 Theory of Ideal State

1. Unity of individual and community/state (unification of soul);
2. Just individuals make just society; Tripartite individual soul reflects in tripartite state;
3. Statecraft is soul craft: Tripartite individual soul reflects in tripartite state - Ruler, auxiliary, producer class;
4. Political idealism: Meritocracy, division of labor, excellence, morality, justice, harmony (unity);
5. It is not base on birth (not like caste system), but rather on education, training;
6. "State represent complete and highest Good"

Ruler:

1.  Philosopher - "Reason", the dominant element in their soul;
2. They are wise, courageous, temperate and just; knowledgeable, knows the art of statecraft/politics;
3. They accept ruler job NOT for personal glory/benefit but true desire to guide members of community lead a good/happy/fulfilled life;
4. They will get special rigorous training for 15 years;
5. Duties: Territorial integrity of the state; prevent extreme inequality; provide prescribed system of education; frame just law for furtherance of "Common Good";

Auxiliary:

1. Protectors/soldiers;
2. Sprit is the dominant element in their soul;

Ruler and Auxiliary:

1. Guardian having communal life - no private property, no family, no permanent marriage, no affiliation to children;

Producers:

1. Rest of citizen;
2. Producing for all;
3. Appetite is the dominant element in their soul;
4. They will lead normal life;
5. They will not participate in politics;

Noble lie:

1. Philosopher King - Made of Gold;
2. Auxiliary - Silver;
3. Producer - bronze;

Community of Wives and Property

1. Ruler and Auxiliary: Guardian having communal life - no private property, no family, no permanent marriage, no affiliation to children;
2. To prevent nepotism and corruption in ruling class; to have unity of the state and just society/state;
3. Guardians will live together in Barracks, eat together on common table;
4. Temporary marriage to produce best offspring who are taken away for education and training;
5. Producers to provide for all material comforts to Guardians;
6. "Radical": eugenics, emancipation of women, nationalization of the family;
7. "Criticism": utopic, regimented, confusing (polygamy, polyandry, common children);

Scheme of Education

1. Education is essential for development of human soul and bedrock of the ideal state;
2. Through knowledge intelligible world can be seen;
3. Free and compulsory education by state to all 3 classes;
4. Education as basis for choosing citizen for specific tasks in the ideal state; also the basis for social mobility among 3 classes;

3 Phases of Education:

1. Elementary Education: up to age of 20 years; gymnastics for training the body, and music for training the mind;
2. Higher Education: next 15 years, 20-35 years; only to selected persons of both sexes of Gurdian classes; mathematics, geometry, astronomy, arithmetic, philosophy and logic; 
3. Practical Training to Ruling Class: next 15 years, 35-50 years; Practical training of administration, managing public affairs;

Pluses:

1. Same for both sexes, free, linked to aptitude and natural abilities, moral/ethical, civic virtues;

Minuses:

1. Utopic, regimented, undermining individuality, abstract, expensive;

Admirers

1. R. L. Nettleship (Lectures on The republic of Plato)
2. A. E. Taylor (The Man and His Work);
3. Ernest Barker (Greek Political Theory);

Critics

1. Karl Popper (The Open Society and its Enemies);
2. R. H. S. Crossman (Plato Today);
3. W. Fite (The Platonic Legend);