INTRODUCTION

Plato is widely recognized as one of the most significant political philosophers of the Greek
period. He was a disciple of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle and founder of the Academy,
one of the most popular institutions of learning in ancient Greece. He lived during 427 BC to 347
BC. He was born in a noble family in Greece. Plato produced several important works which
dealt with different subjects.His most important philosophical contributions remain to be
Republic, Laws and Statesman.
Plato's Ideal State, as presented in his work The Republic, is a philosophical vision of a
perfectly just society. At the heart of this ideal is the concept of a highly structured, harmonious
state, where each individual performs the role best suited to their abilities. The state is governed
by philosopher-kings—wise and virtuous rulers who possess knowledge of the truth and are
thus able to guide the society towards justice. In this utopia, Plato advocates for communal
living among the ruling and warrior classes, rejecting private property and traditional family
structures to ensure loyalty and unity.

KALLIPOLIS
According to Plato, the ideal city-state, also known as Kallipolis, is a theoretical political city-
state that aims to achieve maximum justice and eventually happiness. In the Republic, Plato
constructs the state in three successive stages: The healthy state ,the luxurious state, the just
state or the ideal state. The first city is the city of the money lovers or appetitive souls. But the
problem of this city is that there is no one to regulate indiscriminate desires of the appetitive
souls. It is required that there should be a class of people who can do the job of regulating the
unnecessary appetites of the appetitive souls. They are the guardians or the spirited souls. They
will perform the duty of guarding the city-state from outside as well as inside. This leads to the
formation of a city number 2. But again this city faces the problem of uncontrollable love of
honour. This requires that philosopher kings regulate the uncontrolled love of honour. This city
must also have some institutions – institutions of education system, communism of property and
family and poetry censorship and appropriate myths for proper functioning.

The salient features of Plato's ideal state, as outlined in The Republic, can be expanded as
follows:

1. Rule of Philosopher-King: In Plato's state, the philosopher-king is the ultimate ruler.

This leader is not driven by personal desires or power but by wisdom, knowledge, and a
deep understanding of the truth. Plato believes that only a philosopher, someone who
comprehends the forms of justice, goodness, and truth, is fit to govern. The philosopher-
king's rule ensures that decisions are made based on rational thought and the well-being
of the entire state, rather than on selfish interests.
2. Equality of Men and Women: Plato was ahead of his time in advocating for gender
equality. In his ideal state, men and women are considered equal in terms of their
potential to contribute to society. Both genders should receive the same education and
have equal opportunities to participate in the roles of guardians (soldiers and rulers).
Plato believed that any differences between men and women were not inherent but
social constructs, and that both should be trained to perform their duties in society.

3. State-Controlled Education System: The education system in Plato's state is fully

controlled by the state to ensure that all citizens are trained to perform their assigned
roles effectively. Education is a lifelong process designed to cultivate virtue, knowledge,
and the ability to act justlyHe believes that virtue is a form of knowledge and that
individuals can only achieve happiness and justice by understanding the true nature of
good. The aim is to provide every individual with the education suited to their natural
abilities, leading to a just and harmonious society. The system also ensures that the
philosopher-king and the other rulers receive the highest level of education in
philosophy, mathematics, and dialectic to prepare them for governance.Education also
helps individuals control their desires, especially in the guardian class, where the ability
to act prudently and rationally is essential.

4. Functional Specialization: Plato’s state is based on the principle of functional

specialization, where each individual performs the role for which they are best suited.
Society is divided into three main classes: the philosopher-rulers (who govern), the
soldiers (who protect), and the workers (who produce goods and services). Each class
has distinct duties and responsibilities, ensuring that everyone contributes to the
common good. This specialization is designed to maintain harmony and order within the
state, with each class focusing on its specific role.

5. Communism of Wives and Property: In Plato’s ideal state, the guardian class (rulers
and soldiers) lives a communal life, meaning they do not own private property, have
traditional families, or engage in permanent marriages. Instead, they share everything in
common to ensure loyalty and prevent personal attachments from interfering with their
duties. The guardian class is expected to serve the state without any personal
possessions or family ties. In contrast, the lower class (producers) is allowed to have
private property and family life but is excluded from political roles. This structure is
intended to prevent conflicts of interest and maintain focus on the common good.
 6. Control of Art and Literature: In Plato’s state, the state exercises control over art,
literature, and all forms of cultural expression. The goal is to prevent the spread of
harmful or immoral ideas that might corrupt the citizens’ morals and disrupt the social
order. Only works that promote virtue, wisdom, and the ideals of justice are allowed,
while those that depict negative behaviors (such as violence, deception, or dishonesty)
are censored. This strict control over art and literature is designed to protect the citizens
from harmful influences and help them maintain a virtuous character.

7. IDEAL STATE AND JUSTICE:

Justice lies at the heart of Plato's ideal state. For Plato “ State was the ideal for which
justice was the reality”. For Plato, justice is an architectural value. It exists in an ideal
city-state which functions as Plato has described. It is a city-state in which people take
up different functions to maintain the city-state in accordance with their capacity as
determined by the nature of their soul and their education. As long as different classes of
people perform their functions and pursue the innate desires of their soul in a tempered
manner without harming the city, justice is ensured.
according to Plato, is a tie that binds society together, a harmonious union of persons.
For Plato, justice is both public and private because it preserves the highest welfare of
both the state and its citizens. Plato's ideal state calls for society to be divided into three
classes ,each symbolizing the components of reason, spirit, and appetite. Plato believes
that in a ideal society, each class and individual has certain responsibilities and
obligations to the community, which if fulfilled by everyone, will result in a harmonious
totalit

CRITICISM

Plato’s ideal state has faced several criticisms:

1. Utopian and Unrealistic: Plato's vision is seen as unattainable, with its strict class
divisions and the role of philosopher-kings being impractical in reality.
2. Authoritarian: The concentration of power in the hands of philosopher-kings and the
control over education, art, and personal lives is criticized as totalitarian.
3. Lack of Individual Freedom: The state limits personal liberty, forcing individuals into
predetermined roles, especially in the guardian class, which restricts personal choice
and autonomy.
4. Class Inequality: Plato’s rigid class system excludes the majority from political
participation, perpetuating social stratification and inequality.
5. Disregard for Human Nature: Plato’s idea of molding people into specific roles
overlooks the complexity and unpredictability of human nature.
6. Misunderstanding of Justice: Critics argue that true justice involves recognizing
individual rights, not forcing people into fixed roles based on abilities.
7. Communism of Property and Family: Plato's communal approach to property and
family is seen as dehumanizing and unnatural, stripping away personal bonds.
 8. Overemphasis on Rationality: The focus on philosopher-kings and reason neglects
emotional and social aspects of human life, which are important in governance.

Overall, Plato's ideal state is criticized for being authoritarian, impractical, and dismissive of
basic human rights.

CONCLUSION
Despite the objections mentioned above, it is obvious that Plato's political views had a profound
influence on the political thinking of his followers in later ages. Without a doubt, Plato has been
chastised for articulating some utopian views. However, his utopian tendencies do not negate
his contributions to political thinking. Plato desired to establish an ideal society ruled by a
philosopher monarch who, according to Plato, was the epitome of justice, virtue, and sacrifice.
His political thought is marked by his emphasis on justice, functional specialisation, feminism,
and eugenics. " His views on justice, functional specialization., the rule of the wise and the
virtuous, women's emancipation, the significance of education, and other topics reflect Plato's
eternal aspect