Book-Plato “The Republic”

The book “The Republic” by Plato, shows his ambition to build an ideal society and
government all at the same time. The attempt came after his friend was condemned to death
in the Greek democracy; thus, he acted to the suffering of Socrates. From the inspirations of
his book, it is easy to identify several crazy ideas, which could relate to the current
happenings in the country. These crazy ideas revolve around justice, democratic values, and
the creation of an elaborate system. The ideas were used to explain the need to have
philosophers in government and to rule society. Plato’s thinking about justice contradicts the
concept of judging people based on their actions because, in his view, people should not be
lovers of reputation, honor, appearance, and injustice. Ideally, life is a race, and runners who
run from the start to the finishing line are judged positively through prize awards while those
who were unjust do not receive anything in return. A just life meant moral acceptance,
moderation, and wisdom, humility, and kindness. Besides, justice in the city represents three
parts, including appetite, reason, and spirit, which result in conflict among themselves, for
instance, there is a conflict between reason and human appetite and conflict between appetite
and spirit. However, due to the tyrant mode of the ruling, it was not possible to have the
desired justice in society.
Plato identified one requirement in The Republic was the Guardians who are the
protectors of the city. This group of people should think like warriors and strong-willed to
pursue the designed course, not letting their desires rule over them. According to Plato, the

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guardians could only fully submit to such requirements after subjecting them to a rigid
educational program. The program intended to turn the guardians into philosophers while the
education would censure the arts. According to Plato, an ideal society or state is that with
regulated music and literature because they impact the mental health of the individuals.
However, arts were recognized as an inauthentic presentation of reality, cultivating his
desires for his unhealthy society. Therefore, an art that does not provide the actuality of
things in the society should be eradicated because it has no utility to add on to the
community. This makes his idea crazy in that he talks of having an open mind to ideas in the
book, but in this case, he refutes the arts and claims it is an evil concept. Besides, it is more
concerned about the benefits of the society but disregards the interests an individual gets from
any course of action. For instance, the guardians were supposed to act on behalf of the
republic and not on their behalf. Censorship introduced individuals lacking the freedom to
making their decisions in the experience of their understanding as par their desires. Thus, it
was critical to note that Plato undermined the value placed on individuals and appreciating
the mind.
Democracy was a source of another crazy idea because Plato thought that the power
in citizens brings about one ruler. Democracy has been used to represent citizens in
government through elections. In an alternative view, Plato believes that the wisest
individuals should rule the nations. In his idea, he thought that all girls and boys in the
country should be put through the same educational program so that they all receive equal
opportunities for education. As a result, those who top in the education system should be
positioned as rulers in the generations to come. It would then be a preferable system of
democracy because real democracy has some inefficiencies. Where individuals in a society
have the right and freedom to vote, likely, they do not listen to the wise people who desire to
promote and deliver their needs most effectively. Thus, very few people thought about the

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future resulting in substandard rulers. For that reason, therefore, Plato finds that the chosen
government is terrible due to the lack of a philosopher. The idea could work in current
governance because it shows a responsible people.
Nonetheless, the philosopher did not want to bring society to a dictatorship
government but pushed to enlighten individuals on the importance of choosing the right
rulers. This would not happen until they trained to be philosophers because he thought of a
better society ruled by the philosophers guarded by the guardians and inhibited by the
ordinary citizens. On the typical cause of events, the governors are said to lead a luxurious
life, poor subject treatment, have no will to resist pleasure, and know no truth. However, it is
difficult to figure out the kind of society Plato had in mind because it was easy for a human
brain to be influenced. The idea of ending democracy was and is still crazy to understand his
concern for democracy being a danger to the citizens and society. For this reason, it would
never have worked. In his view, democracy is charming but dangerous due to the myriad
nature of human beings. For instance, it is essential to differentiate the necessities and natural
human desires that could lead to the collapse of democracy in any country. For example,
eating is a necessity and natural, but this does not play the same role when it comes to eating
delicious foods because simple foods could serve the same purpose. From this, it is easy to
relate that democratic individuals are never satisfied with the occurrence of events because
they feel that they should receive what it is they desire.
In line with the crazy ideas of democracy by Plato, it is easy to relate to the current
events of the nation and society today. Looking at consumerism like in a democracy, society
thinks that it is correct to do everything because we hold the right and freedom to do so.
Unfortunately, society has rights and freedom, but it is important to consider they it is also
responsible for meeting the duties given to them. Additionally, the well-known democracy
has turned into tyranny, where the ruler will rob the wealthy individuals in the society to give

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to the less fortunate. The ruler will be accused of injustice by the rich while the rich will be
charged with treason by the ruler. The poor in society will then elect the ruler again, and they
will continue to act as they have in the past.
Nonetheless, ending democracy is a brilliant idea that could see society to another
level of ruling, justice, and development. At the time the republic was available, the
democracy was in its fourth of the total five government. Some of the characteristics of
democracy include freedom, excess concern to society, and little or no restraint. Athenian
was the government that sentenced Plato’s friend to death, triggering his thought about
democracy freedom. However, considering the democracy where poor people win, but these
things have since evolved, making his views invalid. Importantly, we lack direct democracy
because we have many balances and checks, preventing the mob ruling. Besides, the
educational system has moved to engage the entail society in learning the virtues of
democracy. Whatever that is not appealing brings about rational discussions, something
absent in the Greek ruling in the past. Currently, the minority and poor societies have had
their voices reach the high people in government, making the tyrant democracy irrelevant.
Hence, although Plato’s idea to end democracy was relevant, some visible changes have taken
place, thus, rendering continued democracy in the country.
In conclusion, Plato’s book “The Republic,” illustrate ideas that could be utilized in
the current time of governance to make a better society. Government rulers should be well
equipped to make changes and impacts on the poor people living in the days and the then
time of governance. Plato was right to state that equal opportunity to education could be a
strong basis for rulers. This will result from reducing tyrant ruling, thus, socio-economic
equality. However, the idea of having philosopher rule the country is absurd because citizens
have the freedom and right to vote whoever they like. His fight for justice cannot apply to this
point in time because the society comes first then individualism. On the other hand, an

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elaborate system alone cannot be used to change the democratic values of the country. Thus,
inapplicable in the current political structure of the state.

Work Cited
Plato, et al. Republic 10. Warminster, UK: Aris & Phillips, 1988.