Simone Lawson
Plato's political philosophy is a topic of enduring interest, with his ideas on constitutional government influencing generations of philosophers and statesmen. Plato's Republic and Laws are two key texts that offer insights into his thinking on social peace and the ideal constitution. In these works, Plato, through the character of Socrates, explores different forms of government and the vulnerabilities inherent in standard constitutional measures of accountability. Plato's ideal constitution promotes social peace and cooperation among different social groups, each contributing to the common good. However, critics argue that Plato's vision of an ideal constitution, or utopia, is unrealistic due to its assumptions about human nature. Plato's own experiences in the political arena, including his attempts to moderate Sicilian tyrants and his association with democratic Athens, may have influenced his views on the strengths and weaknesses of various forms of government.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Constitution | Tyranny or Despotism |
| Rulers | Ruled by lawless appetitive attitudes |
| Ruling Aim | No single aim |
| Ruling Behaviour | Constantly plotting against the poor |
| Citizens | Criminals, beggars, and demagogues |
| Socioeconomic Divide | High; the rich are constantly plotting against the poor and vice versa |
| Military Capability | Low; unable to fight wars |
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What You'll Learn
Plato's ideal constitution
In his works, particularly "The Republic" and "The Laws", Plato explores two different solutions to achieving social peace and harmonious coexistence among different social classes. In "The Republic," Plato envisions a philosophical aristocracy or monarchy, where philosopher-kings and queens, free from the pursuit of power and privileges, rule for the benefit of the common good. These rulers are subject to strict regulations, including subsistence wages and the absence of private property, ensuring their focus remains on governing justly.
However, critics argue that this model turns away from constitutional accountability by proposing unelected rulers. Plato addresses this concern in "The Laws," where the mediating function is transferred from the philosopher-rulers to the laws themselves. This traditional polity, a mixed or composite constitution, aims to reconcile partisan interests by incorporating aristocratic, oligarchic, and democratic elements.
While the practical implementation of Plato's ideas may have faced challenges, his contributions to political philosophy remain significant. By questioning existing constitutional measures and proposing alternative models, Plato initiated discussions on governance and the role of leaders in society, leaving a lasting impact on philosophical and political thought.
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Plato's view of democracy
Plato, a pupil of Socrates, grew up in democratic Athens and lived in an age of political constitutions. In his writings, he describes the ideal city, which is led by philosopher-kings and queens, as a utopia. However, he also acknowledges that such a city is a "nowhere-utopia" because humans are psychologically incapable of creating and sustaining it.
Plato's views on democracy are complex and nuanced. In his work "The Republic," he presents a critical perspective on democracy through the character of Socrates, who defines democratically constituted persons as those ruled by unnecessary appetitive attitudes. In the dialogue, Socrates argues that democracy can lead to a regression into tyranny, the worst form of government. According to Plato, excessive freedoms granted to citizens in a democracy can result in a visually appealing demagogue rising to power, exploiting the people's pleasures and desires. This demagogue can then lead the people into a state of tyranny, where individual freedoms are lost.
However, Plato also recognised the value of democracy and constitutional governance. He acknowledged the limitations of absolute rule and the importance of accountability in leadership. Plato's ideal political order promotes social peace and cooperation among different social groups, with each group contributing to and benefiting from the common good. He proposed a philosophical aristocracy or monarchy in "The Republic", but in his later work "The Laws," he suggested a traditional polity with a mixed or composite constitution that includes aristocratic, oligarchic, and democratic elements.
Plato's own attempts to implement his political ideas in Sicily ended in failure, and he returned to Athens. There, he established his Academy, which became a renowned teaching institution, instructing future generations of philosophers, statesmen, and constitutional advisers in various subjects, including mathematics, rhetoric, astronomy, and dialectics.
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Plato's view of tyranny
Plato, a pupil of Socrates, grew up in democratic Athens and spent much of his life considering the nature of justice and political order. In his writings, he describes several types of government, including timocracy, oligarchy, democracy, and tyranny, which he views as flawed and vulnerable to corruption and decline.
Plato's Republic explores the idea of a just city, contrasting it with several defective constitutions. Through the character of Socrates, Plato critiques the timocratic constitution, which he associates with civil strife and a decline in values such as knowledge and music. Socrates argues that timocracy can lead to an oligarchy, where wealth and property determine power, creating a divide between the rich and the poor.
The dialogue in the Republic then turns to democracy, which Plato views as a vulnerable form of government. In Plato's view, excessive freedoms granted to citizens in a democracy can lead to a demagogue exploiting the people's desires and ultimately result in tyranny, the most regressive form of government. Plato's concern with the potential for demagoguery and the degradation of democratic ideals may reflect his own experiences in Athens, where he struggled to find his place among contending political parties and corrupt regimes.
Plato's concept of tyranny is central to his political philosophy and represents the lowest point in the succession of flawed governments described in the Republic. Tyranny arises from the excesses of democracy, as a demagogue rises to power by exploiting the people's desires. In Plato's view, a tyrant is characterised by their lawless appetitive attitudes, lacking any sense of restraint or concern for the common good. This is in stark contrast to the ideal ruler envisioned by Plato, a philosopher-king or queen motivated not by personal gain but by the pursuit of wisdom, honour, and the betterment of society.
Plato's fear of tyranny may have influenced his political endeavours in Sicily, where he sought to moderate the Sicilian tyrants through philosophical education. However, his attempts to implement his political ideals in practice ultimately ended in failure, and he returned to Athens. Despite this, Plato's ideas on constitutional government and the role of philosopher-rulers continue to be a subject of debate and interpretation, with some critics arguing that his vision of an ideal city reflects an unrealistic view of human nature.
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Plato's view of oligarchy
Plato, who grew up in democratic Athens, believed that oligarchy was one of the four systems that led to the decline of ideal societies. In his work, "The Republic", written around 380 BC, Plato explores different societal structures through the character of Socrates. According to Plato, an oligarchy is a system where wealth determines political power.
In "The Republic", Socrates recognises that an ideal society cannot remain unchanged indefinitely. He argues that change is constant, and since the ideal city is already perfect, any changes will be detrimental. Even minor negative changes will eventually lead to a broader decline.
Socrates describes the oligarchic man as someone who is primarily concerned with making money. He claims that the pursuit of wealth leads to a neglect of virtue, as the two cannot coexist. This is exemplified in the dialogue when Adeimantus, who is concerned about the material possessions of the ruling class, becomes braver as the dialogue progresses, suggesting that Socrates has elevated him to a timocrat.
Plato's critique of oligarchy is part of his broader discussion on the decline of ideal societies and his exploration of different forms of government, including aristocracy, timocracy, democracy, and tyranny.
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Plato's view of timocracy
Plato, the famous Greek philosopher, grew up in democratic Athens and experienced two brief oligarchical interruptions. He was a constitutionalist and believed in the importance of accountability in governance. However, he was skeptical of democracy and viewed it as a flawed and unsustainable system. In his work, "The Republic," Plato delves into his ideal state and proposes an alternative form of government.
Plato categorised governments into five types of regimes: aristocracy, timocracy, oligarchy, democracy, and tyranny. He saw timocracy as a deviation from the ideal regime, which is an aristocracy ruled by philosopher-kings and queens. In Plato's view, timocracy emerges when an aristocracy degenerates due to mistakes made by its governing class. This results in the inclusion of individuals with inferior qualities in the next generation, who are focused on wealth accumulation rather than cultivating virtues.
Plato's classification of government types reflects his negative view of democracy. He believed that democracy risks bringing dictators, tyrants, and demagogues to power. In his view, democratic leaders lack the necessary skills and morals, and the best-equipped rulers are unlikely to emerge. He compares democracy to a ship where the owner, despite their physical impairments, is persuaded by unskilled sailors to let them take control of the helm. This analogy highlights Plato's concern about the dangers of unqualified individuals wielding political power.
Plato's ideal state, Kallipolis, is presented in "The Republic" and includes three classes: producers or workers, auxiliaries, and guardians. The guardians are the philosopher-kings and queens who possess wisdom, virtue, and selflessness. To prevent corruption, Plato suggests that these rulers should live simply and communally, without private property or wealth. He also advocates for equal political rights for women, challenging societal norms of his time.
In conclusion, Plato's view of timocracy is that it is a step away from the ideal form of government, which is an aristocracy led by virtuous and knowledgeable philosopher-kings and queens. He believed that timocracy arises from the shortcomings of an aristocratic system, leading to a focus on wealth and a decline in moral values. Ultimately, Plato favoured a skilled and virtuous rule, where leaders are motivated by the greater good rather than personal power or privileges.
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Frequently asked questions
Plato's Republic identifies tyranny or despotism as the worst form of government, which emerges from the excessive freedoms granted to citizens under a democracy.
Plato's ideal form of government is a philosophical aristocracy or monarchy, where the rulers are philosopher-kings and -queens.
Plato's Republic and Laws emphasise the importance of constitutional accountability. Plato believed that the only rulers who can be trusted are those who are not motivated by power and privileges, and that honours should only be given when the office is properly fulfilled.
