Plato’s Theory of Education

Submitted To:- SubmittedBy:-

Dr.Anita Samal Mahua Dutta

(Faculty Member Political Science) Semester II

Section- A
Roll No. 93

Political ScienceProject
Date of Submission:-15/02/2016

HIDAYATULLAH NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

Uparwara, Naya Raipur, Chhattisgarh

 DECLARATION

I, Mahua Dutta, hereby declare that the project work entitled, “Plato’s Theory of
Education” submitted to H.N.L.U., Raipur is record of an original work done by me under the
able guidance of Dr. Anita Samal, Faculty of Political Science, H.N.L.U., Raipur.

Mahua Dutta

Semester:- II

Section -A

B.A, LL.B (Hons.)

Roll no. 93
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to sincerely thank the Political Science teacher; Dr. Anita Samal for giving
me this project on “Plato’s Theory of Education” which has widened my knowledge on the scope
and relevance of it in the study of political science. Her guidance and support has been
instrumental in the completion of this project. Thank you Mam.

I’d also like to thank all the authors, writers, columnists and social thinkers whose ideas and
works have been made use of in the completion of this project.

My heartfelt gratitude also goes out to the staff and administration of HNLU for the
infrastructure in the form of our library and IT lab that was a source of great help in the
completion of this project.

I also thank my friends for their precious inputs which have been very helpful in the completion
of this project.
 CONTENTS

Introduction..................................................................................................…...01

Research methodology………....………………………………………………02

Objectives of Study…………………………………………………………….02

Chapter:-1 Plato and ‘The Republic’………..………………………………..03

Chapter:-2 Importance of Education…………………………………………06

Chapter:3 Stages of Education………………………………………………...08

Chapter:- 4 Components of Education………………………………………..11

Conclusion………………………………………………………………………14

References………………………………………………………………………15
 INTRODUCTION

Education for Plato was one of the great things of life. Plato once stated that the main
function of education is not to put knowledge into the soul, but to bring out the latent talents in
the soul by directing it towards the right objects. Plato was, in fact, the first ancient political
philosopher either to establish a university or introduce a higher course or to speak of education
as such. He held the view that without education, the individual would make no progress any
more .This emphasis on education came to the forefront only due to the then prevailing education
system in Athens.

Plato was against the practice of buying knowledge, which according to him was a
heinous crime than buying meat and drink. Plato strongly believed in a state control education
system. Therefore, Plato stated that education touches the evil at the grass root and changes the
whole outlook on life. It was through education that the principle of justice was properly
maintained. Education was the positive measure for the operation of justice in the ideal state.

The main purpose of Plato’s theory of education was to ban individualism, abolish
incompetence and immaturity, and establish the rule of the efficient. Promotion of common good
was the primary objective of platonic education.

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 RESEARCH METHODOLGY

This Project is descriptive and analytical in nature. Secondary and Electronic resources
have been largely used to gather information and data. Books and other reference as guided by
Faculty of political science have been primarily helpful in giving this project a firm structure.
Websites have also been referred.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

• To understand the contributions of Plato in education.

• To understand the Theory of Education given by Plato.
• To study the role of ‘The Republic’ in Theory of Education.

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 CHAPTER:-1 Plato and ‘The Republic’

Plato

Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher who was born in 427 BC. He was only 28 when
his beloved teacher Socrates was sentenced to death by the Athenian government. Saddened by
this event, Plato never participated in Athenian politics again. He left Athens and traveled
extensively for twelve years to learn the philosophy and science of his times. Upon his return to
Athens, he founded the “Academy”, the first ever University in human history. It was also during
this period that he wrote the Republic. It has been said that all universities today are directly
descended from the Academy. One of his students was the great philosopher Aristotle. Plato is
famous for his philosophical dialogues, commonly known as “Dialogues of Plato”. His
characters in the dialogues debate with each other over various topics and issues, with the aim of
gaining philosophical insights. Plato’s dialogues are considered to be one of the greatest works
of philosophy ever written and they laid the foundation of Western philosophy. Indeed, it has
been said that “All Western philosophy consists of footnotes to Plato”.

The Republic

The Republic is a dialogue written by Plato in around 380 BC, after his return to Athens.
It aims to discover the definition of justice through conceiving the ideal city (Plato termed this
the “Kallipolis”, which is Greek for “beautiful city”) and the ideal individual. The idea is that
once you have the ideal city/individual, you would then be able to discover the true meaning of
justice within these ideal entities. The dialogues take place between Socrates and various other
characters in the span of a single day, and their intellectual debates eventually lead the reader
towards the true meaning of Justice.1

The meaning of Education

I have already explained in the introduction the general meaning of education, which is the
transfer of knowledge from one generation to another. However, Plato would say that:
education the initial acquisition of virtue by the child, when the feelings of pleasure
and affection, pain and hatred, that well up in his soul are channelled in the right
courses before he can understand the reason why… education, then is a matter of
correctly disciplined feelings of pleasure and pain.2

1
PLATO, The Republic, 141
2
PLATO, The Republic, 141

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Apart from this definition, Plato sees education as “… to ensure that the habit and aspirations of
the old generation are transmitted to the younger- and then presumably to the next one after
that”. Means of transmitting knowledge according to Plato are: father-and- son and teacher- and-
pupil; but beyond these, there are others, such as mother- and- child, Officer- and –soldier, court,
priest- and –layman, speaker-and- audience, Lawyer-and- Law”.

Plato’s Understanding of Education

According to Plato, education is a matter of conversion. i.e. a complete turnaround from the
world of appearances to the world of the reality. ‘The conversion of the souls’, says Plato, ‘is not
to put the power of sight in the soul’s eye, which already has it, but to insure that, instead of
looking in the wrong direction, it is turned the way it ought to be’ .
On the other hand, it is showing that the power to learn is present in anyone’s soul and that the
instrument with which each learns, is like an eye that cannot be turned around from darkness to
light without turning the whole body.
Following this statement one can realize that because everyone possesses the power to learn in
his soul, what is needed is to turn our soul in a proper way that is to prepare a good environment
for learning. Plato sees various stages of the human mind i.e. from ignorance to true knowledge.
The lowest stage of knowledge is imagination: “Here the mind confronts images, or at least the
amount of reality”[11]. In using the word imagination Plato wanted to show “simply the sense
experience of appearances wherein these appearances are taken as true reality”. The
characteristic of this stage is the failure of one to know what shadow is or an image, this man is
not aware that he is observing such a thing i.e. image. Plato assigned to this stage the appetitive
soul. A further stage of development of human mind is belief. So to a certain extent there is a
light compared with the lowest stage; there is a strong feeling of certainty, but not absolute
certainty. Someone can observe things that are visible and tangible but Plato would say “visible
objects depend upon their context for many of their characteristics”. To this stage, Plato also
assigned the appetitive soul. The last stage of development of the human mind is the attainability
of perfect knowledge. “Perfect intelligence represents the mind as completely released from
sensible objects. At this level, the mind is dealing directly with the forms.” Knowledge that was
discussed by Plato was not knowledge of particulars but was knowledge of universals;
knowledge of particulars was in the lowest stage while knowledge of universals was equated as
abstract.
In short, the theory of the divided line contains four sections; which are intelligence for the
highest, thinking for the second, belief for the third and the lower section is imagination. Moving
from one stage to another need effort and mental discipline hence one cannot acquire knowledge
without great effort.
Therefore, Plato was fully convinced that education would help one to know many things;
he/she will be able to know what to do in his/her state in order to avoid disaster in the state. So
much so, that those who have different tasks in the state were supposed to get education, not
merely any education, but education for the real true and good, or, in other words, they should

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become philosophers. After the long years of studies it was suggested that those who wanted to
rule the state were supposed to work or hold some office for fifteen years before starting service
to the. State, in order to get experience and also to learn to stand firm when confronted with
difficulties and problems. Whoever survived all these tests was qualified to be Philosopher king.
Moreover, these tests are supposed to determine prospective rulers from those who are to be soldiers
and artisans. The whole range of the educational system would be in part physical, in part intellectual,
and in part moral. If a man cannot withstand moral temptation, then he might sacrifice the interest of
the society in order to satisfy his own interests.

Education in ‘The Republic’

“To get a good idea of public education, read Plato’s Republic. It is not a political
treatise, as those who merely judge books by their title think, but it is the finest, most beautiful
work on education ever written.” – Jean-Jacques Rousseau.To conceive the ideal city and
individual, we would need to have the ideal education. The four aspects of education in the
Republic are Music, Gymnastics, Mathematics and Dialectics.”3

There are three key components in our soul: the appetitive, the spirited, and the rational.
The appetitive part of the soul desires pleasure (lust, greed, materialistic desires), the spirited part
is aggressive and seeks honor, while the rational part is concerned with acquiring wisdom and
knowledge.

3
PLATO., The Republic , Great Britain: The white friars Press Ltd., 1955
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 CHAPTER -2 IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION

The role of Education

Education should make people fit for their different social roles; as he said, “A purpose of
education is to create a balance, a harmonious state; where the workers are to be trained to obey
their masters and offer important economic services to the state”[18].
Education also helps to prepare the ruler of the state, on this he said,
The ruler of the state should be the one who has the peculiar abilities to fulfil that
function … the ruler, said Plato, should be the one who has been fully educated, one
who has come to understand the difference between the visible world and the
intelligible world, between the realm of opinion and the realm of knowledge,
between appearance and reality. The Philosopher-king is one whose education in
short, has led him up step by step through the ascending degrees of knowledge of the
divided line until at the last he has a knowledge of the Good, that synoptic vision of
the interrelation of all truths to each other[19].
He thought also that the Philosopher king must have been undergoing many stages of
education. The role of education also is to improve the ability of an individual, by dialogue one
gets deeper understanding and becomes more creative. It helps to promote the culture of people
and enable them to have a good life by preparing children creating good atmosphere, by using
play, music, discussion and criticism. “Education must promote a new type of leadership; and
this leadership, once found, isolated, and trained, must by rights become supreme”[20]. Education
was for the betterment of state and individual.

Education in Greek Society

MAIN FEATURES
Education in Greece was a matter of private individuals. Sophists were considered as educators.
These were selling their wisdom, in their schools they admitted only pupils who were able to
pay. Consequently poor families could not manage to pay. Sophists moved from one town to
another. This situation didn’t please Plato since they were not the best channels of education,
neither second best because they desired money and fame rather than knowledge. Therefore,
Plato’s attitude toward these itinerant teachers, who picked up as much information
and technic as possible in town and moved on to the next to purvey it, who usually
lacked any firm commitment to truth, and who were happy to sell what they had

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 picked up in rather expensive packages of private or semi private instruction, is a
mixed one.4
Therefore, Plato proposed the state to be responsible for education rather than to leave it to the
private individuals, as it had always been the case. So, Plato proposed to have a Minister of
Education; this was considered as the most important minister, and his office also was
considered as the greatest one. He advised that education of children should not become
secondary or an accident. In addition to that Plato proposed that:
Education should be carefully planned as it is universal, with subject matter,
admissible candidates, age levels, examinations and rewards being taken up as
pressing considerations in state- supported and state- administered schooling.
The Platonic approach to education comprises the following aspects: sciences and arts, which
were to be communicated by teachers to their pupils; moral virtue, necessary to teacher and
students, and finally political institutions, which were connected with the learning process. But
practically, Plato was interested in the method and purpose of education, its transmission through
the institutions, which help in education. Teaching and training in accordance with their ages,
selection of educators (teachers) and pupils, content of education, effectiveness of those who
have already acquired that education. Tradition according to Plato was one of the fundamental
factors required in any successful grasp of teaching. Here Plato wanted to show the role of
tradition in the whole process of learning since it is through tradition that we can get knowledge
of the past. It is through tradition man connects with his past and with the past of society and his
city. Moreover, Plato believed that in order to create a balanced and harmonious state, various
social orders such as workers, soldiers and guardians should be educated separately in order to fit
for their different social roles; e.g. workers were to be trained to obey their masters so that they
can offer an important economic service to the state.
Women have got the same duties as men, and in order to fulfill their duties they must have the
same nurture and education.
The only difference noted between men and women is physical function, i.e. one begets,
the other bears children. Apart from physical function, all can perform the same functions.
Therefore, in order to perform all these duties, education was necessary for them so that society
could get best values from both men and women. But this idea was revolutionary to Greek
women, since in Greece they were staying home and took care of babies.
However, Plato recognized also some differences in intelligence and talents; so it was suggested
to have different schools for those who have got special talents, i.e. he advocated an educational
system, which would distinguish and identify rulers, soldiers and the populace.

4
JOWETT, B., Five Great Dialogues: Plato, New York: Walter J. Black, Inc., 1942
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 CHAPTER:-3 Stages Of Education

Plato named three stages of education: reading and writing as the first stage; second stage:
physical education; and the third stage: secondary or literary education.
• Reading and writing
Education was not started for the children after birth, even before birth a mother was supposed to
exercise properly, to ensure the health of the baby. After birth, exercise must be supplemented by
various means that will keep the child from becoming frightened or emotional. This was
followed by supervised play, instruction for both boys and girls; although they were supposed to
learn the same disciplines and sports, it was suggested to be done separately.
In this stage children should be taught through music, play, physical work, geometrical exercises:
this should be done when children are in the age of six. The major aim of this stage is to
“promote culture and right living by exposing the child to the proper kind of environment and
atmosphere through play, music, discussion, and criticism”.5
• Physical education
In this stage Plato was thinking more of military training rather than mere athletic training. This
stage starts from 18th to 20th year. In this course, it was compulsory to attend; the young people
of Athens spent two years in this course in order to be trained. Big emphasis was on physical
education because it helped to build healthy bodies. And the other purpose of training was to
give them stability injudgement. Nevertheless, the education for these Guardians was restricted
on a blend of the soft and the rough, so that these guardians would have a degree of
aggressiveness tempered with gentleness; to be like watchdogs fighting against wolves, they
were supposed to get physical strength, courage and a philosophical temperament: they should
have self-control, self-discipline and they must also show wisdom. By those characteristics they
could be able to care for laws and customs. Education of Guardians emphasized mind and
character; were including stories both true and fiction. Of this stage Plato concluded by saying,
The general purpose of this stage of education –to train both character and moral and aesthetic
judgement …The influence of environment on growing mind is again emphasised: it is because
of this that so rigid a censorship of the music and poetry to be used in education is required.
• Secondary or literary education
This is the study of the works of poets, which were learnt to be recited and were sung to the lyre,
so it included knowledge of music. Greeks didn’t have a Bible; the poets were the source of
theology and morals. An ordinary Greek was expected to acquire his morals and theological
notions from these poets and use them to educate his young, so it was expected that those poets
must be suitable for the intended purpose i.e. to teach morality. This was strictly considered

5
Myungjoon Lee, "Plato's philosophy of education: Its implication for current education"
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because most of the existing poetries were unsuitable and because of this, Plato was afraid that
unsuitable poetry could misrepresent God who is perfect.

Stages of life:
Plato's model of education can be called “functionalist”: a model designed to produce competent
adults to meet the needs of the state. He had definite ideas about a good life and what we call self
actualization which according to Plato formed the backbone of the academic curriculum.
According to Plato there are different stages of life and he has suggested proper education for
these periods.6

Stages of education and education

• The First stage: (0-6)

Plato believed that education began from the age of seven and before these children should stay
with their mothers for moral education and genders should be allowed to plays with each other.

• The Second stage (7-17)

This stage is till the age of seventeen. The content of education comprises Gymnastics, literature,
music elementary mathematics. Gymnastics is essential for the physical and mental growth.
Music is chosen as the medium of education, an avenue for the spiritual growth, and ideas are the
contents of education for this stage.

• The third stage (18-20)

This stage is meant for cadetship and is related to physical and military training. The youth are
bought into the stage of battle in this age.

• The fourth stage (20-30)

This stage is from twenty to thirty where advance mathematics and their relation to reality are
taught. Here students undergo mathematical training preparatory to dialectic. Plato has
highlighted the qualities needed for an individual to enter higher education. He proclaimed that
preference should be given to the surest, bravest, fairest and those who have the natural gifts to
facilitate their education.

• The fifth stage (30-35)

6
A Companion to the Philosophy of Education (Blackwell Companions to Philosophy), ed.
by Randall Curren, Paperback edition, 2006
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This age is from ages thirty to thirty five. Plato restricted the study of dialectic to this age
because he felt that an individual should be mature enough to carry on the study in dialectic
especially about ultimate principles of reality.

• The sixth stage (35-50)

This age is from thirty five to fifty years, when according to Plato an individual is ready as a
philosopher or ruler, to return to practical life to take command in war and hold such offices of
state as befits him.

After reaching 50 one should spend the life in contemplation of “the Good” their chief pursuit
should be philosophy and should participate in politics, and rule for the good of the people as a
matter of their duty.

Method of teaching
According to Plato knowledge which is acquired under compulsion detains no hold on the minds
of the bearers. Plato believed that there was no compulsion in teaching and it should be more of
an amusement.

Plato says all elements of instruction should be presented to the mind in childhood, nor however,
under any notion of forcing. He says that, "it is better for a learner to be a free man and not to a
slave in the acquisition of knowledge."7

Plato indicated towards the play way method.

7
Philosophy of Education (Westview Press, Dimension of Philosophy Series), by Nel
Noddings, Paperback edition
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 CHAPTER: 4 Components of Education

Plato’s education of music, gymnastics, mathematics and dialectics in the Republic helps
to ensure that these three components of the soul are in harmony with each other. If the
appetitive component is too strong, we would have an unhealthy soul with too much greed and
lust. If we were too spirited, we would become overly aggressive. Finally, if we were too
concerned with gaining wisdom at the expense of developing other parts of our soul, we would
not be well-balanced individuals (or as known in modern times, nerds). Therefore, having a
proper education is important to keep these three components balanced.

Music
“Music” in the Republic refers to both literary education and conventional music/melody. For
literary education, children should be told stories and tales that exemplify courage, temperance,
and justice. These stories would help to carve a proper moral nature from young. The stories
should not reward unjust actions or encourage improper behavior. For example, the story of
Achilles lamenting the loss of Patroclus in Homer’s “The Iliad” should be excluded from all tales
as it shows overly excessive emotion. In this epic poem, Achilles displays an extreme outpouring
of grief when his cousin Patroclus is killed in the Trojan War. This is a quote from the Republic:
“…Achilles, who is the son of a goddess, first lying on his side, then on his back, and then on his
face; then starting up and sailing in a frenzy along the shores of the barren sea; now taking the
sooty ashes in both his hands and pouring them over his head, or weeping and wailing…rolling
in the dirt, calling each man loudly by his name…”

Gymnastics
Gymnastics in the Republic refers to physical training of the body. There is also a brief note on
the ideal diet. For physical training, the training regime should be simple and functional. It
should not be over-complicated to the point whereby if one deviates from the usual routine, he
would fall ill easily. That would be counter-productive. Instead, the training should be simple
and straightforward. The main goal is to increase functional strength and create a healthy body.
As for diet, one should not indulge in lavish feasts and copious amounts of food. Instead, the
fideal diet should consist of simple and healthy fare, taken in moderation.

Contrary to common interpretations, musical education is not solely for the soul nor gymnastics
solely for the body. Instead, both types of education aim to improve the soul. Too much physical
training causes one to become overly aggressive, while too much music and literary causes one
to become overly soft. Hence, a good balance of music and gymnastics would engender a nice
harmony in the soul and prevent one from being too effeminate or too savage.

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Mathematics
In book seven of the Republic, Plato talks about mathematics and dialectics. “Mathematics”
refers to four branches of study: Mathematics, Plane Geometry, Solid Geometry and Astronomy.

Therefore, one would need an advanced education in mathematics to achieve true wisdom. One
should first study mathematics, followed by plane geometry, solid geometry and astronomy
(study in the motion of celestial objects) respectively. Studying these disciplines seriously will
lead one towards the ultimate truth and wisdom. This is because music and gymnastics are
mainly concerned with visible and tangible things such as health and literary education, while
mathematics deals with problems that can only be solved through intellectual deduction.
Therefore, since the ultimate truth can only be attained through pure reasoning, mathematics
helps to develop our mind so that it will be robust enough to achieve pure wisdom and
knowledge.

Dialectics
Dialectic, the final aspect of the Republic’s education, is the culmination of the first three
components of education. In the dialogue, Socrates states that everything that has been discussed
thus far is simply a “preclude” to the ultimate education: dialectics. The first three aspects of
music, gymnastics and mathematics simply ensure that the student is ready to engage in
dialectics training.

We can only achieve absolute wisdom and truth through dialectics. This is because music and
gymnastics only deal with visible and tangible things such as health and literary education, while
mathematics is basically a tool to train and develop the mind. However, dialectics is the ultimate
discipline that will lead us towards pure truth and wisdom.

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 Conclusion

Plato was greatly influenced by the Spartan system of education, though not completely.
The education system in Athens was privately controlled unlike in Sparta where the education
was state-controlled. The Spartan youth were induced to military spirit and the educational
system was geared to this end.

However, the system lacked the literacy aspect. Intriguingly, many Spartans could neither
read nor write. Therefore, it can be stated that the Spartan system did not produce any kind of
intellectual potentials in man, which made Plato discard the Spartan education to an extent. The
platonic system of education is, in fact, a blend of Athens and the organization of Sparta. This is
because Plato believed in the integrated development of human personality.

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 REFERENCES

• www.yourarticlelibrary.com/education/platos-theory-of-education/
• Hare, R. M. (1989) Plato, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• https://www.scu.edu/character/resources/education-in-platos-republic
• www.evansphilosophy.com/.../a-summary-of-education-in-platos-republi.

• journals.cambridge.org/article
• www.studylecturenotes.com/.../education/245-plato-theory-of-education
• F.O. ODHIAMBO, Handbook on some Social Political Philosophers, 7
• PLATO, The Republic

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