A History of Political

Philosophy
Lecture 9: Platos Politics
- 30 June 2015

TAIMUR RAHMAN - LUMS

9.1 The Republic

The Republic
Politics must accord with human nature.
Tripartite nature of the body & soul:
Charioteer (reason) trying to control two horses pulling in opposite directions The spirited element is good, needing no touch of the whip, ever obeying the voice of
reason;
Bodily appetites needs constant control to prevent it from plunging all three off the
road. (Platos contribution to Psychology)
The fundamental characteristics of the body, soul, virtue were all in alignment with
each other.
Harmonious Society
The perfect state would exist when the social structure was in harmony with the
characteristics of the body, soul & virtue of the individual.
The state was a bigger version of the individual. Hippocrates notion of harmony of
the body.
Noble lie was needed so that people would accept their position in society.
Also needed censorship of the poets.
Classes
Republic is divided into three classes corresponding to the elements of the body, soul
& virtue.

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Guardians - Ruling intelligentsia, drawn from most capable of reasoning at a highly

abstract level. Trained for 35 years. Must live without marriage or property. Based on
the Spartan model.
Auxiliaries - Soldiers to assist the guardians, drawn from those in whom the spirited
element is strongest.
Workers - Drawn from those in whom the bodily appetites dominate. The most
wisdom the masses can muster is the wise choice of a ruler.
Platonic Communism for Guardians
Training modelled along Spartan lines.
Live in a separate camp. Eat at common messes. Trained physically.
Could not have families or private property (root of ambition). Community of wives
& children (shocked his contemporaries).

Women
Could reason, hence could be guardians.
A state that does not educate and train women is like a man who only trains his
right arm.
Must be trained with men in physical exercises. Mix freely with men
Live communal lives. No home.
Children
Children taken from women and reared by special nurses appointed by the state.
State to organise education & child rearing.
Advocated censorship of poets to properly raise children.
The Laws
The attempt to put his theory into practice in Sicily proved a bitter failure.
The Laws: The next best thing to a Republic to would be a constitutional state

TAIMUR RAHMAN - LUMS