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Lesson-
INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THOUGHT
1.0 Objectives:
- Student will learn about Western Political Thought.
- Student will understand about concerns of Political Thought.
- Student will know about importance of Political Thought.
Structure:
1.0 Objectives 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Political Thought before Plato 1.3 Popular Political Discussion 1.4 Orders in Nature and Society 1.5 Nature and Convention 1.6 Socrates 1.7 The Central Concern of Political Thought 1.8 Origin of Political Thought 1.9 Salient Features of Greek Thought 1.9.1. Exclusively Political Character of Treatise 1.9.2. Main Concentration on Nature of State 1.9.3. Social Nature of Man 1.9.4. The City State 1.9.5. Importance of Education 1.9.6. Rationalism 1.9.7. Concept of law 1.9.8. Views on Justice 1.9.9. Views on Citizenship 1.9.10. Belief in Inequality 1.9.11. Individualistic Element 1.9.12. Primacy of Discussions 1.10 Impact of Greek Political Philosophy over European Political Philosophy 1.10.1 Concept of Democracy 1.10.2 Religious Tolerance 1.10.3 Concept of Justice 1.10.4 State Regulation of Education 1.11 Importance of Western Political Thought 1.11.1 Political Philosophy 1.11.2 Nature of Political Thought 1.12 Subject Matter of Political Thought 1.12.1 The State 1.12.2 The Government 1.12.3 Human Nature and its Relation with Universe 1.12.4 Division of Political Thought 1.13 Sources of Political Thought
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1.14 Conclusion 1.15 Model Questions 1.16 References
1.1 Introduction:
Political Thought is about the State, its structure, nature and purpose. It is nothing but “the moral phenomena of human behavior in Society”. It follows not much explanation of the occurrence of State as a justification of its continuation. The questions which Political Thought is forever stressed to answer are i) what is in the State? And why should I obey it? ii) What are the proper limits of authority and when may I refuse to obey it? iii) How is the authority of state with which I cannot give out to be made well-suited with the liberty without which I am less than a man?
To those questions no one can give certain answers that will persuade everybody. It is very challenging to distinct the purpose of political life from the purpose of life itself that the answers we give to these questions or political theory. In the last, analysis rest on upon our conceptions of right and wrong. And because it is a branch of ethical theory it cannot influence everybody. For science general laws can be applied by the help of which we can get exact results, the student of politics in search of such laws would be like the experiment and examine for the answer that would turn everything into gilt. According to Graham Wallas, no one cannot after twenty generations of education, even two human beings satisfactorily like each other cannot perform alike under same situations, “the lines of politics are not like the lines of mathematics. They have broad and deep as well as long they admit of exceptions; they demand modifications. No lines can be laid down for civil and political wisdom. They are matter incapable of exact definition”.
But, if, to quote Sir Earnest Barker, “each Professor of Political Thought is suitable, to feel about all the Professors, if not about himself. They argue from questionable maxims,(sayings) by a still more questionable process of logic to conclusions that are unquestionably wrong”. What, it may well be asked, is the value of Political Thought? Answers of a thrilling nature have often been given to that question. One is that it has no value, that it and immaterial, that as Bacon says, “Like a virgin consecrated of God, it is barrow”. It is sustained, an undoubted design of that individuality of philosophers which Berkeley noticed, their habit of first jolting up a dirt and then protests that they cannot see.
Nevertheless, the student of Political Thought has met and wide-open the expansive solution, has come across and been made to understand in its true light of the claptrap, sees the awful supremacy of words to clock authenticity, and is aware of the duty that lies upon him of piercing to that reality, in spite of the surge of words which may drum on his ear drum up his sentiments. What is the state and why do men obey it? Have been of two kinds one in that the state is an organism of which men themselves are parts and which is therefore, greater than they are, it is actual and they are merely obstacles. The other is that, it is an instrument which men produce for their own resolutions and which is therefore no other than they are. They are actual and it is just a device. The idea of the state as an organism was knockout by the Greeks. By the Stocis (indifference to pleasure or pain) it was functional to humanity as a whole, it was then taken over by Christianity, and throughout the Middle Ages ruled supreme. It was challenged at the time of scientific
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of books and even if political treatises were written before the time of Plato, were not been well-preserved. But there are clear signs that much dynamic thoughts and discussions were lingering upon political problems and that many of the beginnings found later in Plato and Aristotle had already preserved. The basis and growth of these ideas cannot be appropriately outlined, but the atmosphere of opinion must be recommended in which the more clearly political philosophy of next century could progress.
1.3 Popular Political Discussion:
The Athenians of fifth century were engrossed in the discussion of politics necessity hardly be understood. Public apprehensions and the conduct of public affairs were their great topics of interest. They lived in an atmosphere of verbal discussion and dialogue which is difficult for the modern man to visualize. It is convinced that every sort of thought- provoking political questions were enthusiastically campaigned by the inquisitive and curious minds of Athenian Citizens. Definitely it was more promising to certain political enquiry. The Greek was virtually forced to think of what would be now called comparative government. The Greek of fifth century had formed curiosity about the queen laws and institutions, which filled his world is proved by the fund of anthropological wisdom embodied by Herodotus in his history. The diverse custom’s and behaviors of foreign people form a consistent part of trade. Every man favours the customs of his own country, though there may be little difference or superior to other country. Every man must be lived in accord with some standards. There was a proof by the Greek that they had even gone further degree to imagining about government. In Herodotus book III, there was mention that seven persons had debated the relative merits of Monarchy, Aristocracy and Democracy. Most of the argument appears: The Monarch inclines to degenerate into a tyrant, while Democracy makes all men equal before the law. But democracy becomes module and a government by the best men is definitely desirable and nothing can be better than the rule of one best man. This is a genuine Greek touch which Herodotus certainly did not pick up in Persia. This standard classification of the forms of governments then, was a bit of popular theorizing long predating anything known as political philosophy.
In the early stages of political though no doubt unbiased interest about foreign countries counted for something, but was not the main cause.
1.4 Orders in Nature and Society:
It is clear that active thought and discussion of political and social questions headed clear political theory and isolated political ideas of more or less importance among themselves were matters of common knowledge, before Plato tried to combine them in an accomplished philosophy. There were present and convinced general starts, not entirely political, but forming a kind of knowledgeable point of view, with in which political thought established and for first time made clear. The beginnings present and had been uttered before they were stated as philosophical principles. Such conventions are intangible but important, they determine what type of clarifications are felt to be logically satisfying and the direction that later theories will try to take. The essential thought in the Greek idea of the state was the harmony of a life shared in common by all its members. Solon highly praised his legislation as producing a harmony or a balance between rich and poor in which each party received its just due.
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The first development of the principle, however, took place in natural philosophy and this development reacted in turn upon its later use in ethical and political thought.
1.5 Nature and Convention:
There is sufficient proof that this great discussion about nature versus convention was spread wide among the Athenians of the fifth century. It might of course, as often it has done, since, form the defense of the rebel, in the name of a higher law, against the standing agreements and the existing laws of the society. The classic example of this theme In Greek literature is the Antigone of Sophocles, perhaps the first time that an artist misused the conflict between a duty to human law and a duty to the law of God. Thus when Antigone is burdened with having broken that law by performing the law of God and contrast of convention with the truly right was distained to become almost of formula for the criticism of abuses, a role in which the law of nature has appeared again and again in the later history of political thought.
Before the end of the fifth century, the contrast of nature and conventions had begun to develop in two main directions. The one conceived nature as a law of justice and right characteristic in human beings and in the world. This view came to the statement that the order in the world is brainy and benevolent; it could be critical of exploitations but it was basically moralist and in the last option of religion. The other conceived nature non-morally, and as demonstrated on human beings it was self- ascertain or egoism, derive for pleasure or for power. This view might be established as a kind of Nietzschean doctrine of self- expression, or in moderate forms it might become a kind of utilitarianism; the extreme forms could be become theories of a definitely anti –social complexion. In the fifth century there were ideas but not in systematic or abstract manner, which contained suggestions of most of the philosophical systems which were produced in fourth century.
1.6 Socrates:
The personal agency by which expressive ideas were revolved into clear philosophy by Socrates, and curiously enough all the possibilities were equally obliged to him. The intensely exciting quality of his personality influenced men of the most different character and persuaded conclusions which were logically quite unsuited through obviously all imitative from Socrates. It is certain that move of Socrates personality and an entertainer conception of his ideas must have gone into the teachings of his greatest pupil, Plato. But in all of Socrates’s pupils were achieved the humanistic reaction which the Sophist began. The great interest of his nature years at least was ethics, in short, the puzzling question about the multitude of local and changeable conventions and true and abiding right.
Unlike Sophists he carried into his humanism the rational tradition of the older physical philosophy. This is the meaning of the doctrine most typically credited to him, the belief that virtue is knowledge and so can be learned and taught, and also of the method by which Aristotle attributes to him the pursuit of precise definition. For given these two the discovery of a valid general rule of action is not impossible, and conveying it by means of education is not unviable. This vision of a rational, demonstrable science of politics, which Plato pursued throughout his life.
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The opinion conveyed by Maxey is acknowledged, because non-availability of non- Greek works of politics made them insignificant. “Greeks were the first to present the political ideas and concepts in systematic form and their ideas greatly molded the European thought and form the basis of modern political thinking.” A reasonable question stand up why the Greeks alone able to laying the foundations of an independent political philosophy? This can have number of factors like the rational character of Greek mind, their secular outlook on life. The incidence of huge number of city states which differed from the states of Babylon, Egypt, India, etc., the Greeks could able to practice verity of political experiments due to existence of different forms of government in those city states. The growth of systematic political thought amongst Greek was due to “the free play of speculative intelligence, the brilliant formulation of vocabulary of thought in language expressive of sublet shades of meaning and purposive Coherence of Greek Ideals”.
1.9 Salient Features of Greek Thought:
The Greek political thought have positive significant features which justify our consideration.
1.9.1. Exclusively Political Character of Treatise:
The ancient Greek Political Thought varies from the Political Thought of other ancient countries like Egypt, Bobylonia, Syria, Persia, India, China etc., formed treatise of purely political nature. On the other hand ancient civilizations the political ideas were inter-mixed with mythology and religious literature. For example in India the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Manu Smriti, deal with political problems which are not totally political treatises. They were mainly religious works in which political ideas were inter- mixed with religion and mythology and has to make special efforts to distinguish the politics form religion. In the case of Greek Political Thought the existence of number of independent treatises which are meant to study the political problems.
1.9.2. Main Concentration on Nature of State:
‘One of the important feature of the ancient Greek Political Thought was that it related itself mainly with the nature of the state and the concept that man is a political animal. The Greek writers did not reflect themselves with the problems relating to the relations between the State and Church, or State and Industry which was the part of political thought of later thinkers.’ When they consider man as a social animal they did not consider him as an isolated and independent individual and tried to understand him in relation to the social whole viz., the state. And the state become the centre of Greek political thinkers. They discussed the origin and end of the state and distinguished between various forms of states like Monarchy. Aristocracy, Oligarchy, Democracy, Tyranny etc. they also highlighted the points that forms of government, determine the order in which the changes take place in governments and the laws governing them.
1.9.3. Social Nature of Man:
‘The Greek thinkers were the first to put weight on social nature of man and highlight that an individual could not think as an lonely and independently. He could get perfection only in a healthy state, so they considered state as essential for the sake of life as well as good life.’
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1.9.4. The City State:
Another significant feature of Greek political thought was that it is positioned around the city states, in which men shared with community for common life and purpose, it was an ample social organization in which citizens uninterruptedly took part. Greek political thinkers did not identify the state and society. As Barker has observe, “the Greeks were never tried of telling themselves that while in their communities each man counted for what he was worth and exercised his share of influence in the common life. It was place of a common life and the home of a union of classes. Like within common walls drew new natural intimacy. It did not abolish the prestige of wealth and birth and culture, it established a tradition of easy inter course between all classes. The city state was also not different from church. It was be –all and end-all of the actions of its citizens and included the entire cooperative actions of the citizens.
1.9.5. Importance of Education:
Greek thinkers gave top significance to education and stressed its importance in making the people on par with the spirit of constitution. They highlighted on practical system of education which could help in promoting modesty, self- control, patriotism, sociability and other similar qualities. The responsibility to promote education was of state among the citizens and was considered as a moral and political institution but also an educational institution. The Greeks laid main pressure on state to skillful system of education.
1.9.6. Rationalism:
Greek given an important position to rationalism in their thought. They consider that reason is an aspect of the importance and man was free, when he had freedom of reasoning, this made man to identify himself with corporate life, which made to stop his personal and selfish interests and just into the jurisdiction of wider interpretations and higher purposes. Greek thinkers gave advantaged positions to persons who had the rational faculty and demoted those persons who did not have reason, have much low status. ‘They gave much importance to reason and ware against of a thing which was not justified on ground of reason.’
1.9.7. Concept of law:
‘The Greek concept of law was connected with their belief in reason. They measured life-breath of the state was law, because it characterized the cane of the rational being.’ The people who make laws were stimulated by the divine power and was also pronouncement of God. They thought that law and justice as two sides of the same coin, and considered the justice done by the law.
1.9.8. Views on Justice:
‘The Greek political thinkers gave top priority to justice, which enabled a citizen to discharge his duties properly, and contributed towards development of human faculties.’ Justice was implied to mean willing obedience to the laws of state. According to Plato “Justice was the virtue of social and injustice it’s vice”.
1.9.9. Views on Citizenship:
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1.10.1 Concept of Democracy:
Democracy was unknown to Europeans and it was borrowed from Greeks because most of the European countries have Monarchial system. As a result they developed a healthy blending of Monarchial system.
1.10.2 Religious Tolerance:
Greeks were religious tolerant when compared to Europeans. Europeans were religious biased which resulted frequent religious strife. They learned tolerance from Greeks. The insignificant position in which religion was attached to politics was due to the impact of Greeks.
1.10.3 Concept of Justice:
The concept of justice founded on the principle of ‘virtue in action’ by the Greeks also made an influence on the European political philosophers, they made a protruding place to it in their thought, the Europeans had a different meaning to justice earlier to them justice means purely submission to the will of monarch, who was treated as head of justice.
1.10.4 State Regulation of Education:
The impact of Greek on the Europeans thinking is also prominent from the greater regulation of the education by the states. Europeans states did not gave importance to education of its citizens. It was the result of the impact of Greeks, they understood education as an instrument for production of good citizen, and gave importance for education.
1.11 Importance of Western Political Thought:
Political thought is a kind of action which is as old as politics itself, which has many facts of styles and attitudes. Political thinkers have talk about the institutions and practices and advise rulers, defend values and principles or criticize the world in which they live in. They have motivated narrowly on institutions of government, lawmaking, and coercive power but focused broadly on society or people. The assertiveness of people is changed and politics also linked to other areas. The approaches to imagining about politics differ.
Major political thinkers who are in different ways have offered modern concept of scope of politics and its place in social life. Western political thought mainly consist of a single broadminded narrative that explains about “natural law” or some variety liberal constitutional democracy as the ideal form of government. More theoretically sophisticated methods for the study of government bureaucracy and group behavior, why do we need study, almost exclusively made thinkers had to say about politics in the past.
1.11.1 Political Philosophy:
It is about the study of politics, liberty, justice, property rights, law and the implementation of a legal code by authority which makes a government genuine. The term political philosophy often refers to a general view, or specific ethic, political belief and method.
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The significance of political thought cannot be over highlighted. The task of thoughtful deeper recommendations of the present situation and further planning can be assisted by a careful study of political thought of the ages. This study in historical prospective leads to nature thinking and permit the political thinkers to solve present-day problems in a much better way. The modern world’s political thought was based on western political thought. It prefers to begin the study with Western political thinkers, like Greeks, because not like their Eastern counterpart, their assumptions are mainly contained in independent treatises and do not form part of literature which was dominantly religious and ethical.
Man is a social animal he cannot lead life alone. He is not satisfied living with society because of his rational faculties, which made him to know about himself and surroundings which influences him. Nature has given him curiosity and desire to know about social surroundings and environment.
1.11.2 Nature of Political Thought:
The existence of various sciences like Botany, Zoology, Physics and Chemistry etc., made him to understand himself and social surroundings in which he lives, which gave rise to social sciences like, History, Politics, Economics, Sociology and Psychology etc. The desire to know about the God and universe gave rise to philosophy, religion and astronomy etc., man made progress in all faculties and acquired knowledge into many sciences. The progress of man is not by one country but all the countries contributed to it. As the political thought of modern world is based on the western political thought, which is useful to modern setup and understand the following.
1.12 Subject Matter of Political Thought:
1.12.1 The State:
Politics can be defined as the study of state and Government. It deals with the mechanism in which man can govern himself and the society. The state and its institution comprises very significant part of social setup. Every movement of man in society is measured by the government. The political power is important than the physical and biological forces.
1.12.2 The Government:
The people of the world and all ages have assumption about the government by its nature, function and organization. They tried to understand several institutions of government to attain its purpose and how should be organized to work better. Such things gave rise to political thinking which is as old as the recorded history.
1.12.3 Human Nature and its Relation with Universe.
Political thinking does not limit to state and government, it has reached beyond them. It is connected to nature of man and his relation to universe. The completes cope of political thought was illustrated by great political thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, Marx, Hegel and Green. Chanakya, and Bruhaspati provided number of examples in ancient India. The chief purpose of political thought is state, they participate in discussion
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1.15 Model Questions:
- What is political thought? Give a brief introduction?
- What are the salient features of Greek political thoughts?
- What is the importance of Western Political thought and Impact of Greek political philosophy on European political philosophy?
1.16 References:
- D.C. Chaturvedi, Political Thought, Meenakshi Prakasham, New Delhi, 1981.
- Johns Dryzek and others, Political Theory, Oxford University Press, 2008.
- C.L. Wayper, Political Thought, B.I. Publications, New Delhi, 1979.
- R.G. Mulgan, Aristotle’s Political Theory, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1977.
- William Ebenstein, Modern Political thought, IBH publishing Co, 1970.
- David Boucher & Paul Kelly, Political Thinkers, Oxford University Press, 2009.
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Lesson-
JUSTICE, IDEAL STATE-PLATO
2.0 Objectives:
- Students would be able to understand the life of Plato.
- Students would be able to learn Plato’s political thought.
- Students would know about the concept of justice, ideal state of Plato.
Structure:
2.0 Objectives 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Sources of Plato’s Political Thought 2.3 The Method of Plato: 2.4 The Republic or Concerning Justice 2.5 Plato’s Concept of Justice 2.5.0 Grounds on which Plato Rejected Prevailing Theories 2.5.1 Traditional theory 2.5.2 Radicalist Theory 2.5.3 Pragmatic Theory 2.6 Concept of Justice by Plato 2.7 Criticism of Plato’s Concept of Justice 2.8 Theory of Education 2.8.1 Education Methods 2.8.2 Features of Platonic System of Education 2.8.3 Education and Curriculum 2.8.4 Critiques of Plato’s Scheme of Education 2.9 Communism of Wives and Property 2.9.1 Communism on Property 2.9.2 Criticism of Communism of Property 2.9.3 Communism of Wives 2.9.4 Common Reasons on Wives 2.9.5 Criticism 2.10 Comparison of Plato’s Communism with Modern Communism 2.10.1 Resemblances 2.10.2 Dissimilarities 2.11 Origin and Nature of State 2.12 The Ideal or Just State 2.12.1 Philosopher King 2.12.2 Plato’s Rule of Philosophy and Features 2.12.3 Criticism 2.13 Ideal State and Liberty 2.14 Ideal State and Equality 2.15 The Statesman 2.16 The Laws:
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2.2 Sources of Plato’s Political Thought:
The political thought of Plato was resulted partly from current intellectual climate and principal political conditions and partly from the ideas of from Pythagoras, Parmenides, Heraclitus and Socrates. In fact no political philosophy is intelligible save in the context of its time, and this is true about Plato’s philosophy as well. After the death of Pericles in 429 B.C., the Athenian leadership had destroyed to a low level. The execution of Socrates made Plato to reconsideration he took the task of rebuilding philosophically the moral fiber and political organization of Athens and to achieve this end, he agreed certain solutions which were observed as the most inspiring and excellent ideas in the history of political thought. If Plato was influenced by the conditions overcome at that time, among the Greek thinkers, Pythagoras, Heraclitus and Socrates influenced him. From Pythagoras he learned the theory of Tripartite Man, which says human mind is made of three elements. The appetite, the spirit and reason. Socrates had the utmost influence on Plato’ life, he was influenced by Socratic theory of knowledge, he advanced it into a system of Metaphysics. It says, each theory which we observe in this world in an imperfect imagination of a perfect original called the ‘Idea’ or ‘Form’. There is seeming ‘Dualism’ i.e., there are two worlds – the world of being and the world of becoming. The world of being is a static world of perfection or an ideal world, which is real because it is ideal or perfect. The world of becoming which is an active world of imperfection, a world of particular things, which is imaginary because it is imperfect. The former is world of reason later is world of sense – perception. Plato was also obligated to Socrates for his identification of virtue with knowledge. Socrates said that, there could be no ‘virtue’ or ‘excellence’ without knowledge. Storage of facts is not knowledge. Socrates said knowledge and morality are identical. Knowledge influenced the total personality, hence, all qualities are inferior to knowledge. In fact, the proposal ‘virtue is knowledge’ is the important idea of the Republic. The entire theme of Rule of Philosophy which Plato build up in the ‘Republic’ is based on Socrates proposal that virtue is knowledge.
2.3 The Method of Plato:
The system adopted by Plato has also an individuality of its own, like his philosophy. We have definitely agreed procedures to study the social and political phenomenon. These methods either overlap or supplement each other, or mutually oppose. For science there is a method, which is based on observation and conclusions through hypothesis and verification. This method is also known as inductive method, there is another method deductive method which is just opposite to inductive method. Besides, there is also historical method, which is established on experience and which be distinguished to the analytic method that divides the ingredients of a phenomenon and studies at in segregation from other related phenomenon. Plato has used all these methods even though they looks to be contradictory. His method can be said to be logical because his ideas proceed from the ‘ideas archetype’ or universal to the particular, which are imperfect models. It will not be wrong to label his method as inductive, because his nature of state was based upon an opinion of the qualities of an individual. His method would have historical proof as well
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because in the Republic he had given a possible historical advancement of state through four main stages. 1) the stage of articulate speech, 2) the state of natural economic dependence 3) the stage of war and war chiefs and the final stages of government 4) his method in analytical also, because he divides individual into three components parts to find his principal nature.
2.4 The Republic or Concerning Justice:
The republic or regarding justice was one of the greatest works of Plato, which represents his thoughts fully. When he was at the age of 40, he wrote the book, which indicates the maturity of his ideas and philosophy. This book deals with both political and moral principles and it consists of 10 books. It also includes the metaphysical, educational, and sociological and host of other problems. A prominent philosopher Nettleship said, “The whole Republic is really an attempt to interpret real nature, psychologically; its methods can be observed in all the institutions of society, class organization law, religion soon are ultimate products of human soul and inner principle of life which works itself out in these outward shapes”. Prof. Barker also said “It is an attempt at a complete philosophy of man… But man is a whole, his actions cannot be understood apart from his thinking and therefore the Republic is also a philosophy of man in thought and of the laws of his thinking”. The Republic of Plato starts with the proposition (propose), what is a good man, how he can become so. Plato said that, a good state should have a king who must be a philosopher (Philosopher king), and must have information of good and reality. Plato supports the instrument of education which produces good citizens and solves many or our social and economic problems. The Republic of Plato starts with ethics and enters in the domain of politics, sociology, metaphysics, education etc., he could able to deal with so many subjects in republic, because there was no separation of subjects during his time. The Greek cities states were so much combined that there was no difference between politics and religion. The dialectical method and dialogue system helped him to cover different subjects in his discussions. The Organic view of the state was taken by Plato, found no battle between ends of the state and those of the individual. Plato tried to ‘rehabilitate a strong and impartial authority which should mean, not the rule of rich over poor, or of the poor over rich, but something either above or at any rate combining both”. He measured an ideal state must consist of their classes, each performing a special or appointed functions, the three classes were i) economic class ii) military class iii) ruling class. The economic class was accountable with creation of wealth when he said, men having iron in their nature. The warrior class comprised of persons who protected the community, said to be men having silver in their nature the ruling class was mainly in charge for the governance of the country, said to be gold in their nature. Even though each class was significant within its respective place, Plato considered that ruling class was more important than other classes. Because they have accountability for making and unmaking of the country which is rested on their shoulders. He tried to raise ruling class. To recognize the philosophy of Plato fully, it is suggested to examine his views on justice, education, Rule of Philosopher king and communism of wives and property.
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Plato left out and condemned this theory because it considers that justice is something external or an importation. He said that, justice is rooted in human mind.
2.6 Concept of Justice by Plato:
After rejecting those prevailed concepts of Justice, he proposed his own concepts of justice. He opined that, justice must be present both in individual and in society. He thought that justice in the state existing in bigger and much noticeable form, he tried to put it with the help of state. According to Plato, there are three constituents inhuman mind namely reason, sprit and appetite, which are presented by the rulers, soldiers and farmers. He opined that each of these three makes a valuable contribution for the creation of the state. Justice can be done if the each group performs their duty without interfering each other. Justice is a bond which holds a society together, pleasant union of individuals, each of whom has found his life work in accordance with his natural fitness and training, it is both public and private virtue. Plato’s concept of justice was explained by Barker as, social justice many be defined as the principle of society, consisting of different types of men (producing type, military type, ruling type), who have combined with each other to perform their own duties. Hence, the concept of justice by Plato, based on three principles. First it works as functional specialization like giving a definite function to each one according to his capacity and merit, second, it works, noninterference of different groups. So that they can concentrate on their own duty. This sort of work required for the unity and welfare of all the members of sate. Third, it implies harmony in between the three classes (groups) representing wisdom, courage and temperance respectively.
2.7 Criticism of Plato’s Concept of Justice:
The concept of justice by Plato has been exposed to criticism, the following charges are leveled. First, the concept of justice by Plato is mainly grounded on moral principles. Which lacks legal sanction, hence, is not enforceable. It is based on self- control and self –rejection in the interest of society. At any stage of history more moral sanction cannot protect the social good. Second, Plato’s theory of justice could be practical only in the city-state. It toughly enforce the principle of division of labour and except everyone to do his allotted duty to satisfy society. In the present context, it is not possible nor can be fixed. If duties can be given to the members of each class because the population has increased so much. Third he said that each individual owns there qualities like, reasons, spirit and appetite, he wants each individual must contribute to the development of only one faculty. He wants ruler class to develop faculty of reason. The soldier class to develop faculty of spirit or courage while appetite for the peasant class. Fourth, his concept of justice gives absolute power to one class like, the philosophers, because they have lot of wisdom. Thus, there is a scope for inequalities of power and privilege in his concept of justice. However, he failed to realize grant of absolute power in the hands of any person or class of persons though morally and spiritually trained lead to degeneration on and corruption. Fifth, to spot the misuse of power by ruling class, he pleaded for communalism of property and wives in complete violation of human psychology.
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Sixth, Prof. Popper, said that, Plato’s concept of justice gives rise to totalitarianism and it ignores the humanization principles like equality, freedom and individualism. Seventh, Plato subordinates individuals completely to the state and shows him a meagre means for the promotion of the interest of the state. Eighth, his justice gives rise to a class-state in which ruling is the privilege of a particular class.
2.8 Theory of Education:
Plato’s theory of education is connected to his theory of justice, education act as an important role to bring harmony according to Barker and unity in the society. According to Barker “An attempt to cure mental malady by mental medicine”. Plato trusts that, most of the evils in the society can be removed by providing education and he asserted that it is a spiritual medicine. Plato gave significance to education and connected to his ideal state, and gave prominence to his second book of Republic. Plato believed that knowledge is virtue and it is the duty of sate to provide knowledge. Plato asserted that the three classes in the state must be properly trained and educated so that they can do their duties with efficiency. That means state should give priority to education.
Plato always believed that education is related to individual and societal characteristics, in fact it gives individual to understand knowledge which is equivalent to virtue, it can threw a light on soul to know the truth as well. It is the social method by which society can become quick to respond about the consciousness and can learn to do their duties effectively in the society. Plato very effectively mixed these two concepts of education and justice.
2.8.1Education Methods:
During the time of Plato, education system was entirely reverse trend they were Athenian and Spartan types. The system of Athenian was in primarily with private people and left with the parents to educate children by the way they think will be the best. In the Spartan system of education which was in control of the state, and parents separates their children when they attain four years and they will send them to be taken care by the perfects and state take care of their education and involvement of parents in this regard was not there. State provide education in harmony with social conditions. Plato’s education system of education designed to promote social welfare and help individuals by understanding the reality.
2.8.2 Features of Platonic System of Education:
The important characteristics of platonic or spiritual education are here under:
- Plato stressed that all concerned be communicated for proper education. He believed that education is a kind of positive measure by which ruler can mould the characters of the people, he never supported the idea of keeping education with private hands and stressed the need of keeping education with state only.
- Plato never accepted to keep the education options with parents and stressed the need to make it obligatory. He stated that education should made obligatory to all the citizens of the state, so that they can develop their mental faculties and can become respected units of state.
- Plato did not accepted the barring of women from education on the Athenian system, both men and women must be given education
