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com/video/x18dogx_chak-len-de_music
5. Plato intended to build an institution for scientific study of politics and training of statesman"
elaborate (2008)
7. Platonic and Aristotelian paradigms (2011)
8. Plato intended to build an institution for scientific study of politics and training of statesman."
elaborate. (2012)

PLATO(427-347 BCE)
1. Explain Platos Theory of Justice. How he tries to implement it through the Education
System? (2001)
9. Critically examine the concept of "Justice" by Plato.(2014)
4. Explain Plato's theory of Justice. How he tries to implement it through educational
system? (2006)

1-Introduction.

He was born in 447 BC when the civilization of ancient Greece was at the zenith of glory and
eminence. He belonged to royal blood of aristocracy, from his mothers side he was related to
Solan, the law giver. He was student of Socrates, was intellect in philosophy, science & taught the
people. He made efforts to discover the eternal principles of human conduct i-e justice,
temperance and courage which alone imbibed to absorb something, especially information the happiness to
the individual and stability to the states.
In 399 BC, the turning point came in the life of Plato, the defeat of Athens by Sparta made him
to despise to dislike and have no respect for somebody/something democracy and Atheins became weak after
the war with Palounezia. Hence, the dream of Aristocracy remained unfulfilled. Also, he disliked
the democracy due to the death of Socrates in it. He wandered to move away from the place where you
ought to be or the people you are with abroad for twelve years in Persia, Egypt, Africa, Italy and Sicily in
the hours of disillusionment (disappointment), absorbing wisdom from every source and tasting
every creedal dogma. Then he returned to Athens and opened an academy.
He wrote about 36 treaties all in the form of dialogues. His academy became the best school in
Athens.
The Politicus or Statesman deals with politics of the state functions.
The Laws published after his death, deals with legal system for guiding purposes & restraining
the corrupt & imperfect govts.

1-Platos theory of Justice

1-Intro:
-He saw injustice with Athens, rulers & ruled selfishness in Athens, injustice with Socrates, he was
fed up with current politicians, he saw the fall of Athens democracy at the hands of Spartan
oligarchy (small people ruling) in the Peloponnesian war. He had seen the rule of oligarchs, which
he termed as thirty tyrants, he visited many countries and understood and gave the idea of an
ideal state in which Justice is reign supreme.
-He reviewed the concept of Justice & morality
-He discovers & locates justice with an ideal state
-Supports philosopher-politicians
To understand the theory of Justice, we have to define the justice of earlier sophists:
a-The theory of cephalous-Traditionalism (giving to every man what is due to him), do bad
with enemy and good with friend. Plato says: to harm any body even ones friend is against
morality & injustice.

b-The theory of Thrasymacus-Radicalism: Thrysamuches(injustice is better than justice) Plato

disagree with extreme view.
c-The theory of Glaucon: Pragmatism:
Platos Theory of Justice:
2-Platos philosophy of Justice
-An ideal state can not be without justice. Hence, it needs to be justice in coordination.
a) Division of Population
o 3 classes, 1-ruler philosophers, 2-militants, 3-labours (labours & militants cant be
philo)
o People were deprived of some privileges.
b) State as a body
o Resembling of human organ with state organ. If human has pain in an organ, it will
affect whole body. Likewise, in a state, resources should correctly be utilized.
o G.H Sabine Justice is a bond which holds society together in harmonious union of
individuals, each of whom has found his life work in accordance with his natural
fitness & training
c) Attempt Justice yourself
o Everyone should perform his due job. If not then will be punished, if state is doing
something wrong, then get united to work for the justice.
d) Geographical Division
o King philosopher should divide the country into regions, units so that justice can be
prevailed.
3-Important features of Platonic Theory of Justice
o Non-interference in others Affairs
Everybody should do his given business & does not interfere to other peoples
working.

o Against individuality
People must think about as a whole not for himself.
o Service to humanity
o Universal Justice
4-Criticism
a) Impracticable in Modern World:
o Platos theory of justice can not be functioned in the modern world due to classified it
into three groups

b) Lack of Legal Enforcement

o Based upon purely ethics & morals and ignored the legal tendencies
c) Opposed to the development of Personality
o Individual is seemed bound to do only his work not for the society.
d) Ignorance of Rulers involvement to population
o Non-interference by rulers to the individuals matters can not be supported, because
rulers upholds the contacts either directly or indirectly with the people

e) Monopoly of Philosophers Power

o Sovereign Powers to philosophers is unrealistic and injustice to other classes
f) Class system & Discrimination
g) Communism of wives & property ignores the basic rights of human & soul
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2-The Republic and Plato

1-Intro
Republic was written by Plato in 386 BC in the age of 40 in the form of dialogue.
Republic is concerning Justice, Education, and Communism & Virtue. It deals with ideal state,
political, societal and economical aspects. It is a master piece of Plato.
The true romance of the Republic is the romance of free intelligence, unbound by
custom, untrained indeed by human stupidity and self will, able to direct the forces,
even of customs and stupidity themselves along the road to a national life.
(Prof. Sabine)
2-The Republic is an excellent product of Platos maturity. It is a major contribution to political
philosophy, education, economics, moral aspects of life and metaphysics.
Platos Republic known as Respublica in Latin is translated from Greek word Politeia or Polity
which means a political constitution in general. It is an achievement of comprehension, perfection
and universality of thought. It presents a picture not of any existing state in Greek but of an ideal
state in which weakness of the existing states were to be avoided.
Rousseau said, The Republic is not a mere work upon politics but the finest treatise on
education that ever was written.
Main feature of the Republic is the virtue of knowledge. Plato was of the view that different
classes and individuals had different capacities for the attainment of virtues. The labor class
showed the least capacity. Philosophers were the best entitled to rule the state because of their
superiority in virtue. Plato considered justice to be the supreme virtue and his ideal state be
dwelt to live somewhere with it. We can say that the Republic is his master piece. Platos Republic is
the crowning achievement of art, science and philosophy.
According to Baker, The mainspring of the Republic is Platos aversion to contemporary
Capitalism and his great desire to substitute a new scheme of Socialism.
3-Criticism
The Republic contains a good deal of criticism on contemporary institutions, opinions and practices.
The Republic represents a strong protest against the teachings of Sophists and the existing social
and political corruption.
Plato stresses that state should not be an assembly of corrupt and selfish individuals but be a
communion of souls united for the pursuit of justice and truth and also for the welfare of the
people.

3-Platos Ideal State

1-IntroL
Until philosophers are kings or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and
the power of philosophy and political greatness and wisdom meet in one, cities will
never rest from their evils. (Plato)
2-The Republic of Plato is interpreted as Utopia to end all Utopias, not because it is a romance,
but because he constructed an ideal state in it like an artist. He compares the construction of an
ideal state with an act of an artist who sketches an ideal picture without concerning himself with
the fact whether individual characteristic features of imaginative picture are to be found anywhere
or not? In the same way, Plato never thought of the possibility of the institutions of his ideal state,
being capable of ever becoming a reality. He never thought of the impracticability of this idea
concerning his ideal state.
Plato built his state on the analogy of an individual organism. He believed that the virtues of an
individual and of the state were identical. He was of the view that an individual presented almost
the same features and qualities on a smaller scale as society on a bigger scale.

3-Features of an Ideal State

a.Rule of Philosophy/Philosopher Kings
Plato was of the view that in an ideal state the philosopher-ruler should be prominent. He should
has a broaden vision of unity of knowledge. Philosopher-kings are immune from the provisions of
law and public opinion.
b.No unqualified absolutism (a political system in which a ruler or government has total power at all times)
Though, neither, there is any restraint of law nor of public opinion over philosopher-rulers but that
is not an unqualified absolutism. It is not all despotisma ruler with great power, especially one who uses it in a
cruel way, because rule of philosophy is not free from the basic articles of the constitution.
c.Control over the education system
Philosopher ruler should control the education system in an ideal state.
d.Justice in ideal state
Justice is the main feature of Platos Republic and it is also present in his ideal state. To Plato
Justice means to providing everyman to his due.
e.Censorship of art and literature/Limitations in art & literature
In ideal state, there should be a complete censorship the act or policy of censoring books, etc. of art and
literature. It is necessary so that nothing immoral things might falls into the hands of the young
individuals.
f.System of Communism
Plato was of the view that guardian class should live under the system of communism of property
and family. The rulers and soldiers do not possess any property of their own.
g.Equality among men and women
According to Plato, equal opportunities should be given to both men and women for their
economic, social, intellectual and political uplift. We can say that Plato was the first feminist of
his time.
h.Principle of Functional Specialization
Plato was of the view that due to multiple wants, an individual could not fulfill all his desires by
himself alone due to lack of capacity. Thus co-operation among individuals should be necessary to
satisfy their mutual desires. Some people are specialized in performing some certain tasks.
4-Criticism
Platos ideocracy goes against basic principles of democracy, equality, liberty & free citizenship.
1.Plato built his ideal state on the analogy of individual and this identification leads to confusion.
He failed to distinguish ethics from politics. His ideal state is based not merely on analogy but
almost identification between the individual and the state, which is quite wrong.
2.Plato fails to condemn the institution of slavery and regard it as fundamental evil.
3.Platos system of communism of women and temporary marriage is detestable and unethical.
4.Plato is a moralist rather than a political idealist. His assumption that the state should control

the entire lives of its citizens is false and contrary to human liberty.
5.By the system of functional specialization, Plato tends to dwarf bono fighter the personality of
the individual. There is no possibility of any full development of human personality in his ideal
state.
6.Plato completely ignores the lower class in his ideal state which forms the great bulk the main part
of something; most of something of population. Such negligence may divide the society into two hostile
groups.
..
2. Platos Communism was, is and will remain impracticable. Critically examine this
statement. (2003)

4-Platos views of on communism

1-Intro:
-he visited neighbor countries
-guardians should not own land, greedy people should not have place in country
-divided people into 3 categories
-in communism, guardians should learn education & philosophy, whereas solders should learn enthusiasm &
struggle
-incorporated a different communism for leaders & soldiers by giving them political supremacy
2-Communism of Property
-Guardians/Politicians & Soldiers should be given limited salaries for necessities & they should not own property
i.e. houses and lands and they should not touch gold & silver.
3-Communism of Woman/Wives/Children
-Every year a festival should be commenced where politicians/guardians meet with the women & there should be
no marriage system
-with sound health and minded children should be taken by govt, and the weaker should be taken into lower
classes
4-Critical Analysis
a-Getting wealth is a human nature unlike his view, thus, it is a dangerous communism
b-Disintegration of brotherhood, family
c-Ignoring slaves to discuss about, it is deemed he wanted slaves to be in his ideal state
d-Prohibited owing self wealth
f-Tyrannical view about children & woman for exploiting them
g-Separation of women from mens is deemed that woman became an animal
5-Aristotles Criticism
-It ignores the basic laws of human-psychology
-Ignoring lower class & major population
-Division of 3 classes is impracticable
-Impracticable communism of wives, children, and property etc
6-Comparison of Platos communism with modern communism
-both emphasized for the development of justice & unity
-both communisms are based upon the difference of wealth & family
-Karl Marxs communism is divided into many classes e.g poor, rich, master, servant, stakeholder etc. Whereas
Platos communism is divide into three classes
-Platos for politics and marxs for materialistic equality
-both communisms are for the development of collectivity and individuality, however, critics criticize them against
human nature


3. Examine the main similarities and differences in the Political Ideas of Plato and
Aristotle. (2004)
Plato as Idealist
Reasoning, dialectic

Aristotle as Realist
Realism, humanism all human are not alike

5-Comparison between Plato and Aristotle

1-intro:
Aristotle, the favorite and most brilliant pupil of Plato, is more conscious of his differences than of
the points of agreement with him. The differences which these giants a person who is very good at
something of philosophy were not the outcome of any grudge a feeling of anger or dislike towards somebody
because of something bad they have done to you in the past or ill-will, but reflected their own way of solving
the existing problems of their state.
2-Similarities
a. Slavery institution supported
Both upheld slavery and justified its continuation in true spirit of Greek ideals. Each regarded
slaves as an indispensable (essential) part of the community for the manual performance and
overall development progress of the state.
b. Despised foreigners/racists/nationalists
Both despised/dislike foreigners and regarded races other than Greeks fit for subjection and
bondage and as mentally inferior to the Greeks.
c. Disliked democracy
Both condemned democracy and wanted to replace it with some sort of constitutional or ideal
polity:
->while Plato echoed in condemning democracy, as What could have been more ridiculous
than this mob-led, passion-ridden democracy, this government by a debating society, a
mobocracy. On the other hand
->Aristotle was of the view that the people are not capable of self-government.
d. Classified citizens
Both wanted to impose limitations on citizenship. Both taught that all manual labor should be done
by slaves or non-citizens.
e. Opposition of Sophies
Both opposed the views of Sophists that the state came into birth for the sake of life and continues
for the sake of good life. It is this conviction which makes Aristotle a true Platonist.
f. Books
Aristotles Political is no less a manual for statesman than the Republic of Plato.
3-Differences
Plato
Unrealistic, Abstract
Reality lies in idea not in form
Mixed ethics & politics inseparably
Used new methods in philosophy

Aristotle
Realist, Logical, Rational, Scientific method,
Not in ideas
Separated
Relied upon existed methodologies

a. While Plato draws conclusion through the use of allusion gesture/references and analogy,
Aristotle strikes at the very point with definite and clear-cut dogmas and doctrine.
b. While Plato believes in the abstract notions of justice, virtue and idea.
Aristotle judges the speculative fundamentals on the basis of exact comparison and deduces a
thought presentable and acceptable even in modern civilization.

c. Where Plato is visionary, imaginative and utopian (unrealistic), Aristotle is logical, realist and
scientific in his approach of propounding theories.
d. If Plato believes in the doctrine that the reality of a material thing lies in its idea not in its form.
Aristotle believes that reality in the concrete manifestation of a thing, and not in its supposed
inherent idea.
e. Plato believed in the phenomenon of unity through uniformity. On the other hand Aristotle was
of the view that unity could be achieved through diversity in universe and men.
f. Plato inseparably mixed ethics and politics. He subordinated political theories to ethical
considerations. In Aristotle it was quite the reverse. Ethics and politics were not only separated,
but the former was made to sub serve the later.
g. Plato was the profounder of new philosophy; Aristotle was a systemizer of already existing
knowledge, and made freshly streamlining and fascinating by his powerful influential and charming
style for practical adoption for state functions.
Plato seeks a superman who will create a state as good as ought to be. Aristotle seeks
a super science will create a state as good as can be. Thus, all who believe in new
worlds for old are disciples of Plato, all who believe in old worlds made new by the
toilsome use of science are disciples of Aristotle. (Maxey)

6. Discuss Platos contribution to the History of political thought. (2009)

5-Plats Contribution
1-Introduction
-father of political radicalism new, different and likely to have a great effect & 1st statematic & practical
political philosopher thinker in the west-Ideal state-justice, education, super citizen/rulers are
super men/highly trained.
-As said in his philosophies there are two parts-utopian & ideal part, the rest is still workable in the
world.
Ideal state
-realistic unlike Aristotle
2-Utopian ideas in Platos Political Philosophy
-Doctrine of communism of wives & property-impracticable
-Absence of law, slavery, human nature
-Imperfect of genders
-Classification of states into 3 classes
-Ruler-Philosopher-never worked
-Utopian idea is implacable, though important
Utopian A utopian idea or plan is based on the belief that things can be made perfect:
3-Important Features of Platos ideal state
-Justice giving everyman his due share still practicable
-Functional specialization, (modern theory separation of power, executive)
-Rule of intellect is universal truth-current civil & military
-Was a great feminist (current dr, nurses & teachers etc)
-Communism of property (modern communism worked in china & Russia)
4-Impact of Plato on the History of Political Philosophy
-original idealist romanticist & revolutionist
-resembling between Plato & medieval church (the phil-king resembles the medieval pope)
-Plato belongs to utilitarian (he gives priority to the community before else)
-Rousseau was impressed by Plato on the theory of edu, discards, the individualism
-Locke was impressed by Plato on the collectivism of the social contract.
-Germans & English school of idealism were impressed by him

-The modern traits of constitutionalism of a mixed constitution & of the sovereignty of laws are
traceable to the laws of Plato.
.

Platos Philosophy of Education

-wrote about education in his book republic, education is not merely for materialistic purpose but is for soul
purpose. In his book republic, emphasized that edu is the thing to bring about a positive change in society. He
equalized education of both genders.
His education system was same as of Athens & Sparta
-In Sparta, state imparted education; emphasized on army training in 9y instead of philosophy;
-In Athens, tribe/parents imparted the education, emphasized on army training in 18-20y
-Thus, Plato said that education, Plaot said that education should be under the state so that the people can be
patriotic and work for the betterment of state. His Education System:
1-To increase the level of intellect
2-Increasment of levels in accordance with age
3-Stats duty to uphold education smoothly
4-Continuation of the process of education in whole life
5-Emphasis on gymnastic & music
Basic Importance of his education
1-State is the best source to uphold peace and prosperity by education
2-Equality in education by the enhancement of the people with physical & mental intellect
3-Emphasied on judicious education, dialogues
4-Gender equality in education unlike Athens who did not allow woman for education
5-Emphasied on Philosophical, musical, moral, literature Education,
6-It is not understood whether he emphasized upon musical education or not
Features of his education
10y-Athletics
16-18y-Music & Gymnastic
15-20y-Athletics & Religion (failure-Economic Class)
20-35y-Dialectics, Military, Training & High Education
35-Maths, Astronomy, Logic, Dialectics (Failures~solders & military)
50-Philosopher-Kings
Critical Analysis
-Emphasized upon only elites education & ignored the lower classes despite of their majority in population.
-supported States stance on every issue & opposed liberty against the state govt
-mainly emphasized upon mathematics and ignored the other subjects e.g law, politics, army training, hence, how
could be a great leader merely with the education of mathematics
-Like communism, he emphasized upon politicians for army consolidation
-He gave good ideas about education but he himself did not act upon
-Against democracy
Platos theory of model citizen
-Citizen must be patriotic, liberal live and die for state, respect the laws, he must has the following qualities:
Model Citizen: good at health, beauty, intellect, present mind, education, honest, love for Greeks, optimistic and
live for state
Platos various forms of govts
-govt should be changed in accordance with time for improvement. He supported Regal & gave 5 forms of govts.
1-Regal (Badshahat) typical of a king or queen, and therefore impressive
2-Ambition something that you want to do or achieve very much
3-Oligarchie a small group of people having control of a country or organization. China+USSR, N.Korea, Venezuela,
4-Democratic
5-Tyrranic exercising power in a cruel or arbitrary way.