Topic- Plato and Communism –An Assesment

Submitted by- Miss Hiya Bharali

UID- SF0121023

Sub- Political Science

Faculty-in-charge: Dr Mayengbam Nandkishwor Singh

NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY AND JUDICIAL ACADEMY, ASSAM

 CONTENTS

Contents

1. Introduction

1.1 Research Questions

1.2 Methodology

2. Plato’s Communism

2.1 Plato’s Educational System

3.Types of Plato’s Communism

3.1 Communism of Property

3.2 Communism of Wives

4. Modern Feminism and Plato’s Communism

5. Criticism on Plato’s Communism

6. Conclusion
 PLATO AND COMMUNISM - An Assesment

1. INTRODUCTION

Plato has clubbed the philosophers and soldiers together and described them as the guardian
class. In order to keep them fully free from corruption. He has prescribed a typical style of living
for them which is known to be the communism of property and wives. Plato’s theory of
communism was certainly a corollary of his conception of justice. He believed that without
communism there would be clash of ideas and interests between reason and appetite. Plato’s
communism based on the premise that property, family instincts and private interest would
distract man’s attention from his obligations to the community. As property and family
relationships seemed to be the main source of dissension in the society, Plato stated that neither
of them must be given any recognition in the ideal state. Therefore a sort of communism of
family and property was essential on offset the consequences of Plato’s design of ideal state.
Plato’s communism is a heroic remedy for a desperate evil the union of Political Power and
economic temptation in the one and the same hands, which is not wholly without local support,
institutional and ideological.

1.1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This project is researched and compiled using only empirical methods of research. No primary
sources of information were used in the making of this project and no basic surveys and/or
questionnaires were prepared due to prevalent contemporary conditions that do not allow any
sort of field work; instead, secondary sources were liberally used. Secondary sources are
documents written by an author who did not directly observe or participate in the events
described or who was not the originator of the concepts outlined. They are reports and
interpretations of the works of others. The researcher has depended on secondary data like
journal articles, websites and research papers. 

1.2 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What are the types of PLATO’S communism

2. What is the economic background of Plato’s communism

3. Difference between modern feminism and Plato’s feminism

2. Plato’s Communism

Plato’s Republic seeks to establish justice, i.e. the ideal state where the philosophers, selflessly
rule over the masses involved in the material production of the society with the help of the armed
auxiliaries. Plato’s theory of communism is based on the belief of corrupting influences of
family and property over people holding the public offices. It is aimed at freeing the ruling
classes i.e the philosophers and the soldiers from the institution of family and property.
According to Plato the longings for family and property make the rulers self seeking, indulgent,
greedy and corrupt and that is a diversion from an impediment to appropriate performance of
their duty to rule.

2.1 Plato’s Educational System

Although Plato’s Republic is best known for its definitive defense of justice, it also includes an
equally powerful defense of philosophical education. Plato is the first western philosopher to
theorize and put in practice through the establishment of Academy, the concept of
institutionalized education. Plato’s educational system is founded on the principle of compulsory
education and full equality of opportunity for all citizens, with no discrimination on ground of
birth or gender. Education in music for the soul and gymnastics for the body, From the eleventh
till the age of fifteen years, all children will be trained in music because that is when people are
most pliable. During their training in music the children would be familiarized with mathematics,
history and science in the form of verses that they would sing and enjoy. This will ensure that
they do not averse to any subject worth-knowing even if it is apparently dry. From the sixteenth
till the age of twenty, all students will receive moral education. Unable to distinguish between
good and bad and therefore garner examples of how not to behave from bad tales, children will
only use bad examples to justify their own bad behavior. The content of tales is to instill virtue
and a certain theology in the hearers. Gods must never be shown as unjust for fear that children
will think it acceptable and honorable to do injustice. Good tales must also foster courage,
moderation, and justice. Suitable tales must glorify and encourage moderation; they must display
obedience to superiors and temperance in drinking, eating, sex and love of money and
possessions. Tales must also show bravery in the face of danger.

Gymnastics is mainly responsible for preventing illness and the need for medicine in the city.
Although music is the most important component in the guardian’s education, equilibrium
between music and gymnastics is important for the production of moral guardians. Because a
solely gymnastic education causes savagery and a purely musical education causes softness, the
two must be balanced. Plato felt that education in music and gymnastics will be compulsory for
youths and their progress and adaptability will be watched and tested throughout their
development.
 Also to give education in music to the guardians also because as Socrates mentions that it is the
way to shape the guardians character correctly and thereby prevent them from terrorizing the
citizens. Thus the guardian’s education is primarily moral in nature.

In the first stage of higher education in Plato’s defined educational system the students are given
scientific education, which Plato in his theory of knowledge marks as the realm of
understanding. After 20 years of elementary education in music and physical training, the
successful candidates are introduced to the subjects like mathematics, geometry, astronomy,
astrology and harmonics. In the second stage the students selected for higher education are
taught dialectics the philosophical journey into the invisible world of ideas for the next five
years.

After 5 years of training in dialects, the students become would be only potential philosopher
kings and queens, that they become after testing their philosophical theory into practice by a 15
year long apprentice by working on higher administrative and military positions. Those, who
prove their worth in handling the tough tasks working on these positions, become philosopher
kings/queens, at the age of 50.

Though it has already mentioned in the beginning itself that education is meant for boys and girls
both, yet it deserves additional t treatment as the society was rigidly patriarchal , and women
were confined to only domestic chorus. So in Republic Socrates meticulously argues with
Galucon and Adeimantus the equal potentials in women if given same upbringing and education
as men.

3. Types of Plato’s Communism

Plato’s communism is of two forms – one the abolition of private property, which included
house, land, money, etc and the second, the abolition of family, through the abolition of these
two, Plato attempted to create a new social order wherein the ruling class surrendered both
family and private property and embraced a system of communism. This practice of communism
is only meant the ruling class and the guardian class. However Plato did not bind this principle
on the third class, namely, the artisans. In other words, namely, they were allowed to maintain
property and family, but were under strict supervision so that they do not become either too rich
or too poor. Though Plato structured the society in this manner, he never made any attempt to
work out his plan that ensured such a system to function.

Plato’s communist ideas were deeply influenced by the circumstances of the time. In the period
of Plato, the rule was conducted in the interest of the property owners., the exploitation system
was prevalent and the economic and the economic elements were dominant on the political
environment. The condition of women in Plato’s era was very pathetic. His role in the social
sphere was negligible. They were confined to the boundary wall. Her duty was limited to the
fulfillment of her husband’s sexual desire, the production of children and their upbringing. Plato
was worried about the plight of women. Therefore, he introduced the theory of communism of
wives for the upliftment of women.

3.1 Communism of Property

It is said that Plato’s theory of communism is based on Psychology. We know that Plato has
divided the soul into three parts – reason, spirit, and appetite. In his opinion if reason and spirit
are to discharge their functions and to attain justice, then they must keep themselves away from
appetite . Domination of appetite is a great hindrance to the purification and goodness of the
soul. Similarly, in the ideal state, there are three classes- the ruling class, military class and
farmers. If the former two classes are guided by economic motive, then there will be gross
negligence of duty on the part of these two classes. Only communism could enable the rulers and
soldiers to devote their entire energy and enthusiasm to the cause of the state and in this way
justice could be achieved . Plato believed that the absence of communism would invite appetite.
But justice demands that these three will discharge functions separately.

To Plato justice was not external, but internal. It was the result of habit. Mind must acquire true
habit. But habit depends upon the material conditions. That is how mind will act and react that
will be decided by the material conditions of society. Communism in property will make men’s
mind fully suitable for the attainment of justice. Many of the political ideas of Plato can be traced
to his predecessors and the theory of communism is not an exception. In ancient Greek society
which existed before Plato there was a form of communism in land. Land was held in common in
many tribal societies. But subsequently land came to be divided among individuals and the
authority of the state manipulated and supervised this division.

In the Republic Plato says- True education will have the greatest tendency to civilize and
humanize the rulers and the soldiers in their relation to one another and to those who are under
their protection. Not only their education but their habitations, and all that belongs to them,
should be such as will neither impair their virtue as guardians nor tempt them to prey upon the
other citizens.

None of them should have any property of his own beyond what is absolutely necessary; neither
should they have a private house. Their provisions should be nly such as are required by trained
warriors.

They should agree to receive from citizens a fixed rate of pay enough to meet the expenses of the
year and no more – and they will go to mess and live together lie soldiers in a camp. But should
they ever acquire homes or lands or moneys of their own, they will beome housekeepers and
husbandmen instead of guardians, enemies and tyrants instead of allies of other citizens, hating
ad being plotted against, they will pass their whole life in much greater terror of internal than of
external enemies. For all which reasons may we not say that thus shall our state be ordered, and
that these shall be the regulations appointed by us for our guardians concerning their houses and
all other matters.
The main objectives of Plato’s wealth planning are –

1. Plato’s philosopher king rulers in the public interest. He keeps strict control over the military
class and the productive class only in the context of public interest.

2. The scheme of communism of wealth frees the military class and the ruling class from
economic worries and they can devote all their time and attention to the increase of their
efficiency.

3. For the unity of the state because when the ruling class has private property, there is also
mutual competition and jealousy among the ruling class regarding the property and this creates
fear for the unity of the state. But the communist scheme of property does not allow such fear to
arise in the ruling class and it proves to be the protector of the unity of the state.

4. Plato’s communism of property advises the patron class to adopt a sadistic attitude. Property
will not be the right of anyone, but will be the right of the whole society. This will not create
feeling of accumulating more or less wealth with anyone. The communism of wealth will give
rise to the feeling of fraternity among the people.

3.2 Communism of Wives

If the purpose of Plato’s community of property is to create a congenial atmosphere for the rulers
which will enable them to devote their time and energy completely to the administration and
progress of the state, then we will say half of the purpose is achieved. Because temptation or
distraction will still remain. If property is abolished and family remains as before, people will
be encouraged to acquire it, since without property family cannot be maintained. Plato
understood it fully and he strongly recommended the community of wives as well as children
and his discussion on this subject in the Republic occupies much larger space.

In ancient Greek society the family life was private . Women were confined to home. Men met at
market-places and assembled at other areas. The functions of women were to look after the
domestic chores and to procreate children. They had no freedom and led a very secluded life.
Women were not allowed to meet men other than their husbands and to participate in the affairs
of the state. This seclusion of women from social life, Plato thought, was absolutely inimical to
the unity of state.

In prescribing the community of wives Plato wanted to serve two purposes. To emancipate the
women from the bonds of family life and to reform the time-old system of marriage. In Plato’s
view it was an urgent task to free the women so that they could invest their energy to the all-
round progress of the state.

In other words, he wanted to bring the family within the ambit of the ideal state by reforming and
transforming it in accordance with the ideals of the body-politic. Confinement of the women
within the four walls of the family deprived the state of their valuable services. In order to import
the services of women into the state Plato prescribed the community of wives. His theory is
based on eugenic and moral grounds. The implication of first is both men and women guardians
will live in barracks like soldiers and discharge their duties in common.

Best and healthy men and women guardians will cohabit and their children will naturally be
healthy. Plato thought that healthy children would be the best assets for the ideal state. Again, for
the benefit of the state, the sexual life of both men and women guardians would be regulated.
Plato assumes that as a result of the community of wives, the parentage of the children will
remain unknown not only to their parents but also to the society. All the boys and girls will be
brothers and sisters. In such a situation deeper sense of unity and patriotism will grow in their
minds.

In the Republic Plato has said – “ There cannot be any greater evil than discord or distraction and
plurality. Again, there cannot be any greater good than the bond of unity”. There is unity where
there is community of pleasures and pains.

In Plato’s view to think separately and do separately and not to think of the interests of the ideal
state, feeling of unity must be encouraged and it should be nurtured from the very childhood.

4. Modern feminism and Plato’s Feminism

Modern communism refers to an economic ideology designed to counter the ill effects of
capitalism. It does not trace its origin to Plato’s communism. Modern communism is largely
concerned with common ownership of property although Charles Fourier, early French socialist,
also envisaged a system resembling Plato’s communism of wives as well as property. On closer
analysis, we find some substantial differences between Plato’s communism and modern
communism although they embody the basic idea of communism in their respective spheres of
application.

Marx defines communism as the abolition of bourgeois property, that is private property in the
means of production. Marx thought that the capitalist system inherently contained the seeds of its
own destruction. The alienation and exploitation of the proletariat that are fundamental to
capitalist relations would be lead by enlightened leaders, known as “ the vanguard of the
proletariat,” who understood the class structure of society and who would unite the working class
by raising awareness and class consciousness.

As a result of the revolution, Marx predicted that private ownership, first under socialism and
then under communism. In the final stage of human development, social classes and class
struggle would no longer exist.

Karl Marx described modern communism as the advanced stage of socialism where all able-
bodied person will work to their full capacity ; there will be no parasites; hence the society will
become classless. Here all social means of production will be placed under common ownership;
forces of ownership will have been fully developed, hence it would become possible to fulfill
everybody’s material needs . The rights of citizens will be governed by the rule, “ From each
according to his ability , to each according to his need ”. As Marxist regard the state an
instrument of the dominant class, there will be no need of the state in a classless society. As
Friedrich Engels has elucidated, in the communist society power will be replaced by authority
and the state will be replaced by administration.

Modern communism as practiced in erstwhile Soviet Union and China has been a collective
philosophical predicament expounded by Karl Marx and modified by Lenin and Stalin in Soviet
Union and Mao in China. Historically it owes its genesis to the ill-effects of nineteenth century
industrial revolution. In essence, Communists hold a materialistic view of history. Whosoever
controls the means of production controls the whole society. Thus society is divided into two
classes, “haves” and “have not’s”

To Marx , “History of all hitherto society is the History of class struggle”. They believe that final
goal of class struggle will overthrow the capitalist system and establish the dictatorship of the
proletariat. In course of time, a classless society will emerge and the state will wither away.

So, Plato’s communism does not want total transformation of society. The producing class
remain intact. It is applied only to the guardian class but modern communism is mainly
concerned with alteration of economic structure of the society, it aims at abolition of private
ownership of the means of production. All economic resources are centralized by the machinery
of communist party. Plato’s communism is sought to be achieved through an elaborate
educational system while modern communism is sought to be established through revolution.
Plato’s communism implies the sharing of common property and common wives whereas
modern communism insists on the common ownership of property, particularly the means of
social production. Plato’s communism implies satisfaction of the minimum material needs of the
guardian class that would be accustomed to “plain living and high thinking” , whereas modern
communism envisages the satisfaction of all material needs of people. Plato’s communism
accords primacy to moral values while modern communism accepts primacy of material
satisfaction. Finally in Plato’s communism, authority would be vested in philosopher-kings
whereas modern communism seeks to vest all authority in the working class.

Besides differences some similarities between the two are also there

Both give priority to the state over individual but we know that Marxian communism is a
stateless society; the state of dictatorship of proletariat is only a transitional phase, the state of
political emancipation, on the way to communism, the state of human emancipation

Both consider individual interest to be safest in the collective social interest. But social interest
for Plato is the interest of the ruling classes to which it exclusively applies and the social interest
for Marx is the interest of the vast producing masses.
Some point out that bot recommend the abolition of the private property as source of vices. This
is a mistaken analogy. Plato recommends abolition of private party among the rulers enable their
united control over the producing masses. Marxian communism seeks to end the ownership and
the control of the ruling classes over the means of production and overall economic activities and
transfer it the producers, the working class.

Another point of similarity is state controlled education but Plato’s educational process is a
regimented one aimed at training the ruling classes while under the state of proletarian

5. Criticisms on Plato’s Communism

Plato’s theory of communism has been denounced by many from his disciple Aristotle down to
Karl Popper. Aristotle criticizes Plato for having ignored the natural instinct of acquisition,
making the scheme partial in so far as excluding the producing class from it was declaring it
ascetic and aristocratic, surrendering all the best for the guardians. Others including Karl Popper,
condemn Plato’s scheme of communism on numerous grounds.

Aristotle considers communism against the ordinary experience of life. Aristotle also says that a
common system of property can never increases social welfare. Aristotle also says that the
development of our civilization. Lack of personal wealth hinders the path of progress. This will
destroy the best human possibilities of philanthropy and generosity because the person does
charity work on the basis of private only. Aristotle has proposed the idea that it would be better if
property should be private but its use should be collective. This can benefit both the state and the
individual. Due to enthusiasm and passion for personal wealth, man competes with other and
develops his best qualities, but this will not happen if there is no private property. This plan of
Plato does not involve majority and hence it will and this will lead to division of the state and the
possibility of split, jealousy and discord will be strong. Aristotle believes that without wealth, the
parent class will not be happy and how can the subjects be happy in a state in which the ruling
class will not be happy. So Plato’s communist state would be a sad state. Unity in the state
should be promoted only by proper education and not by communism. Plato himself gives more
importance to the special remedy than the physical remedy. Therefore communism is a
secondary remedy. Plato persists in the tendency to bring more unity than necessary. He
sacrifices the wishes of the people at the altar of the kingdom.

Like Aristotle others leveled criticisms against Platonic communism like that it is doubtful if
communism of families would bring greater degree of unity by making the guardians a single
family. Communism of wives and children was found to create confusion if not disorder – one
female would be wife of all the guardians and one male, the husband of all the females. Common
children would tend to be neglected, for every body’s child would be nobody’s baby. It is also
doubtful if the state controlled mating would ever be workable; it would rather reduce men and
women to the levels of mere animals by suggesting temporary marital relationship. Plato’s
communism of family suggests a system of marriage which is neither monogamy nor bigamy,
nor polygamy, nor polyandry; and finally, Plato’s theory of communism is too idealistic, too
utopian , too imaginary and accordingly far away from the realities of life. Some critics have
gone to the extent of criticizing Platonic communism as half communism.

6. Conclusion

Critics stated that in trying to ensure that family life was not corrupted with selfishness. Plato
went to other extreme and eliminated the emotional bonding that the family provided. Plato’s
communism was ascetic, similar to the life found in monastery.

Though one can say that Plato abolished private family and property for the guardian class, for
they encouraged nepotism, favouritism, particularism, factionalism and other corrupt practices
among rulers. Politics according to Plato did not mean promoting one’s personal interests.
Instead it was to promote the common good.

Bibliography

1. O.P. Gauba, Western Political Thought 35-53,8th edition (2021)

2. Subrata Banerjee, Sushila Ramaswamy, A history of Political Thought Plato to Marx, 2nd
edition ( 2011)

3. https:/ countercurrents.org/2018/09/platos-theory-of-education

4. https://www.exam2day.in/2021/07/platos-theory-communism-and-criticism.html
.