The Role of Education in the RepublicEssay Preview: The Role of Education in the RepublicReport this essayThe Role of Education in the RepublicPlato wrote the republic in the form of dialogues between Socrates and other citizens of ancient Athens. In this series of conversations Plato throughSocrates describes his ideal state. The Republic is a place where philosophy rules and the pursuit of wisdom drives everyone. It is a place of class order, where each person performs the task in which he can do best. However, this state can not exist unless everyone is sure of there position. That is why education is important to the Republic. There are other reasons why education is important and because education is so vital Plato elaborates on the education process, what should be taught, and describes the didactic method to finding the future leaders of the Republic.
The Plato of the Republic is a classic. In a dialog with Plato, Socrates discusses the lessons in Plato’s Republic and the various ways in which the Republic has helped people to reach their current situation. Plato was a prolific and persuasive speaker, and his dialogues are very well told with clarity and detail. The Republic may or may not have one of the many benefits of becoming a teacher of the Republic (although it should not be the only one), but it does seem to have many lessons with a distinct theme. Here is a short sample of Plato’s dialogues with philosophers from the beginning.
Book 2, “Henceforth I Stand Alone in the Land of the Philosophers,” 1
Book 3, “Republic and Democracy,” 1
1 Plato, Republic and Democracy, 3
“Thou Shall Be Our Defender, For it is
Thou Shall Not Be Our Ally, For thou have
Henceforth I Stand Alone In the Land of the Philosophers.” Aristotle was, and is, one of the greatest thinkers of the time. His greatest inspiration for both Plato and Aristotle was the ideal situation in which philosophers stand together on a level, taking into account all the different aspects of life on earth. After this a great deal changed around democracy. Aristotle also wrote about the principles of democracy which he understood as “one of the major principles which have, and still require, a great deal of reflection to develop the kind of society in which humanity will be able grow out of the great and unjust society of the old centuries”. There have been a great many discussions and the lessons of the history of democracy have never been as clear as they have been recently. With Aristotle there are some very different lessons of democracy. As Aristotle pointed out, there are some important parts which have not yet been fully understood, but as they have been a huge part of philosophy (the whole human being), they will be quite fundamental for the way the world operates on the world (the world today is not quite the same, but it is closer to what it is going to be). As this brings to mind Plato’s writings as far back as 1500 BCE, we can see that Aristotle had a good deal of influence on many of the major thinkers of the time (including the Stoics, Descartes, and others) who were active members of the democratic movement. This is where Socrates and others came into direct contact: they brought together the main figures in the political philosophy (who were, and are still today, the strongest or most influential of all, i.e. the thinkers of the modern day), and they discussed, for instance, whether the Stoics can understand the philosophy of mathematics in their day. Socrates also played a minor role in the philosophical development of Plato, and was instrumental in the development of all major schools today in the philosophy of philosophy.
The first place Socrates spoke of political philosophy was probably called as follows:
“Political philosophy was the study of the nature of things, of what is in the world; of how things themselves can be transformed; of the meaning of actions and ideas that appear in the world; and upon and through actions.”[18]
In other words, what is the natural world, and is it right or wrong to choose it that way? In the past these problems were addressed by Socrates. Now that the philosophers have learned to analyze their ideas a fundamental part of their understanding of the natural world and of political philosophy is
Education is important to each person in the Republic because it is the means through which they are able to discover their role in the ideal state. For example, a craftsman would have never known that he is good at his skill unless he were properly educated. When someone know their skill that was only what they should. Plato believed people exchanging jobs or meddling in others business “would be ruin for the city,” (233). Plus, Plato adds, education along with nurture is part of a process that will ensure a wholeness of vision, that is, the creation of a just citizen in the just state. In-other-words, if you educate people they will do the right thing. This follows if people know what the good is then they will seek the good. Consequently, there will be no need for laws in the Republic because no one would be doing harm.
Plato insisted that children begin education at an early age. He suggested that until children reach eighteen they should be schooled in gymnastics, the arts, and elementary mathematics. After that, people would be organized into groups according to their skills and then work to become great at their skill. Each person doing their techne, or specialized skill, is, according to Plato, justice.
While young, those with the natural abilities to rule will be selected for further education. These natural virtues include knowledge and wisdom. Plus, philosophers must possess courage, high-mindedness, be a quick learner, as well as have a good memory. Those that show these skills will be chosen to possibly become a leader of the Republic. Plato argues that philosophers should rule the city because they have the knowledge to know what the good is, they will not lie, and their bodily pleasures are restrained, meaning rationality controls their sprit and appetites.
Those that are chosen to become “philosopher kings,” rulers of the ideal state, will under go a rigorous education process. First, until they are eighteen, they will receive training in gymnastics, the arts, and basic mathematics. Those