Impact of Platos Book The Republic on Modern society

Plato (c.427-347 B.C.E.) developed such distinctive areas of philosophy as epistemology, ethics, and aesthetics. He was also the ideal political theorist whose thoughts had a deep impact on successive political theory Plato made immense contributions to contemporary political theory by unfolding, simplifying, and systematizing psychological and sociopolitical issues. The Republic's main contribution to political science is its stress on the role of thoughts, principles, and morals in politics. He attaches significance to ideas and an intellect not limited by custom, instead of material or chronological factors. He questions "what ought to be" in political affairs, and strains such moral and ethical principles as fairness and good quality as being the main criterion of normative communal theory.

These contributions are very relevant now, for the primary dilemma today is the reconciliation of the traditional aim of politics-to facilitate human beings to survive good and just lives in a political community-with the contemporary demand of social thought, which is to attain scientific knowledge of the mechanism of society On the other hand, Plato's non-democratic point of view includes some superior points that are used in current political systems. For instance, modern democracies are usually representative, as an alternative of Athens' direct variety, which Plato believes inclines toward the oppression of bulk. The present judiciary system, including a constitutional court and judges, represents the supremacy of knowledge's quality over the majoritys quantity. Moreover, the main foundation of a self-governing state's system of government, meritocracy, refers to officials chosen on merit, which is alike to Plato's ideas.