ROLE OF EDUCATION IN PLATOS REPUBLIC

And once we have given our community a good start,' I pointed out, ' the process will be cumulative. By maintaining a sound system of education you produce citizens of good character, and citizens of sound character, with the advantage of a good education, produce in turn children better than themselves and better able to produce still better children in their turn, as can be seen with animals.' Plato

Anywhere in the world education is given a primary importance. As human beings evolve as well as culture from the pre-historic to our contemporary age much effort and time is invested for education. It appears that much weight is given in attaining good education and there must be a reason for this primacy. In many countries educating their citizens is a number one priority, funded well, schools were established securing that every citizen receives access to education. In this light this paper will attempt to uncover reasons for this primacy bridging the necessity for education and its role in State building. Employing the perspective of Plato, the researcher will outline the highlights of the role of education in the Politiea. The researcher will be guided by the following points in establishing the role of education:

1. The background for the rise of education in the state. 2. The necessity of giving education to the State. 3. Who must be educated? 4. The process of education; and 5. What purpose does the process serve?

At the end of the paper the researcher is expected to must have sought answers to the abovementioned points and must carefully outline the flow of the Platos Educational Philosophy, the role being played by education with the assumption that it is essential in State-building as well as the citizenry.

ORIGIN OF THE STATE

A State, I said, arises, as I conceive, out of the needs of mankind; no one is self-sufficing, but all of us have many wants. Can there any other origin of a State be imagined? (II, 369)1 Plato then proceeds to describe the rise of a minimal State wherein the most basic needs of men are being addressed. The barest notion of a State is composed of four or five men. To supply the need for food one must be a husbandman, for the dwelling a builder is needed and for clothing a weaver. A shoemaker is added and another purveyor or supplier of the bodily wants. Here Plato has already a concept of the historical foundation of a society that could be patterned to the rise of Athens as a flourishing city-state but before the citizens were also farming-folks.2 Division of labor in the minimal city is evident for according to Socrates in the dialogue it must be inferred that all things are produced more plentifully and easily and of a better quality when one man does one thing which is natural to him and does it at the right time and leaves other things. From this point, from the four citizens required to sustain the city more suppliers now are required such as the carpenters and the smiths to make the tools of the weaver and the shoemaker. Slowly the little society expands and turns out to be a city of multitude demands thus requiring more and more citizens to supply the needs of other citizens as such engaging now into commerce and trade. From the simpler way of life which many will not be contented comes the luxurious state where ornaments, furniture, perfumes and the likes are in demand also citizens will also require different forms of entertainment. Hence the state requiring many citizens will no longer suffice for the inhabitants thus the need for expansion in terms of territory. Creating another social class we have the guardians basically divided into two the soldiers who defends the community against enemies and the rulers who oversee and regulates the entire activities of the community. Slice of a neighbors land will be wanted by us thus the rise of war to accumulate wealth. The desire for luxury and comforts leads to expansion of the city and the need for an army of soldiers to protect the society.

1 2

Jowett, B. The Dialogues of Plato. New York: Random House, 1937. p. 632 Taylor, Alfred Edward. Plato the Man and His Work. New York: Meridian Books, 1956.

WAR IS AN ART

Art is techne a skill to so something and war is an art, as no art can be pursued with success unless a mans whole attention is devoted to it, a soldier cannot be allowed to exercise any calling but his own. A warriors art requires a long apprenticeship and many natural gifts. (II, 374)3 The problem for the guardians would be the art of war is an easily acquired that any man even an artisan could practice however the selection of guardians according to Socrates is a tough task. The guardian is likened to a well-bred dog whose quick to see, swift to identify enemies and strong and will fight if ever caught. Same qualities is required of a guardian both bodily qualities and mental qualities. As dogs identify enemies from friends by knowing and not knowing which is a characteristic of a philosopher so what more a State will require in a guardian with a unity of philosophy and bodily qualities in him. How these qualities are then be fostered in the citizens specifically the guardians? Adeimantus then asked how these guardians are going to be reared and educated.

EDUCATION OF THE GUARDIANS

A traditional way of education was chosen for the guardians. This kind of education employs music and gymnastics, music including literature for the soul and gymnastics for the body. (II, 377)4 Plato somehow has an authoritarian approach for the elementary education of the guardians. Censorship will be strictly implemented for works of fiction particularly works written by Homer and Hesiod for according to Plato their works give false representations of the gods and heroes. Their stories tell lies about the quarrels of the gods and their evil behaviors. This poses as danger to the impressionable young guardians. He argued that early absorption in fictional accounts can dull a person's ability to make accurate judgments regarding matters of fact and worse they might follow the behavior of heroes. (III, 395) 5 Poetry and dramas that saps the virtues out of the young guardians such as stories of gods being effeminate and pitiful must be banished. A new form of theology is established. God as god must be portrayed for what he truly is. A god is incapable of change, is good and author of what is good.

3 4

Jowett, B. The Dialogues of Plato. New York: Random House, 1937. p. 637 Ibid. p. 640 5 Ibid. p.658

You agree with me then, I said, that this is the second type or form in which we should write and speak about divine things. The gods are not magicians who transform themselves; neither do they deceive mankind in anyway. (II, 383)6 To complete the literary education only the simple style will be admitted in the State for it would bring the speaker clarity of speech and is equated to the purest virtue. For the musical training relaxed songs are to be banished from the city. Only two harmonies will be recognized by the State one that is warlike that gives strength to the guardians during war and one that is used in times of peace. Only the lyres and the harps will be used in the city and shepherds in the country can have pipes. After the harmony rhythm naturally follows but both are under the style which aforementioned is simple. Musical training is a more potent instrument than any other, because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul, on which they mightily fasten, imparting grace and making the soul of him who is rightly educated graceful, or of him who is ill-educated ungraceful. (III, 401)7 Thus, saying that the musical training in the early stage of education of the guardian will bring forth harmony and temperance not only to the guardians but as well as the State. After music gymnastics must be taught but this last all through out the guardians lives. The State only requires simple gymnastic the same with music. The body must be entrusted to the soul. This is followed by higher education for those who qualified. Principally, the qualities compared earlier to a well-bred dog the one with gentleness at the same time ferocity is developed in the soul hence music matched with gymnastics both brings temperance to the individual soul. The elementary education being received by the citizens determines their future roles in the State. Just like any designed educational system it is a means to distinguish what will be their functions. A series of test will be conducted to determine who among them will be soldiers and who will be rulers this all depending on their performance at the early stage of their education.

EQUALITY IN EDUCATION

In Book IV Plato discusses the role of women in the State. A revolutionizing thought for Plato to give importance and recognize womens strength though according to him women are lesser men and the role they will play in the ideal city. He argues for equality in men and women guardians for he

6 7

Ibid. p. 647 Ibid. p. 665

believes that they are fundamentally equal and will share same tasks that of the male in safeguarding the city. Hence, women deserve the same education being given to men. What sort of community of women and children is this which is to prevail among our guardians? And how shall we manage the period between birth and education, which seems to require the greatest care? Well, I replied, I suppose that I must retrace my steps and say what I perhaps ought to have said before in the proper place. The part of the men has been played out, and now properly enough comes the turn of the women. Of them I will proceed to speak, and the more readily since I am invited by you. For men born and educated like our citizens, the only way, in my opinion, of arriving at a right conclusion about the possession and use of women and children is to follow the path on which we originally started, when we said that the men were to be the guardians and watchdogs of the herd. True. (V, 450) 8 Using again the analogy of the dog that guards both with a she and a he meaning both male and female have the duty in securing the State. As the dog has gentleness and ferocity and to acquire these qualities men must be educated thus women too must be educated. They will undergo the same training both musical and gymnastics and the art of war at the early age. They will practice with the men at the gymnasia. Though the thought maybe ridiculous those women will be no sight of beauty once they grow old however for Plato it does not matter at all what matters is the function. At the very place Plato is concerned with the functions of each citizens thus women whose function is to share in upholding the law and have the same pursuits with the male. Women will be paired with their counterpart male. The best women ought to be with the best man. This way the best breeds the same with breeding in animals will be produced. In a higher scheme educating the citizens is not limited to determining the functions they will play in the future. The hierarchy or social classes in the polis the artisans or the producers, soldiers those tasked to secure the polis and the rulers who execute the laws of the State all these three requires an amount of training and basic education. Platos thought might be radical but his revolutionary ways in educating the citizens is not solely to censure what is debased but to envelop the young with beauty and goodness. They ought to love simplicity and grace insisting that it brings goodness in the soul. 9And attaining the qualities will be reflected also in their lifestyle. The life of camp and all things shared in common reminding the citizens that individualism is not asserted in the polis but everything they do is for the land.

8 9

Ibid. p. 712 Jowett, B. The Dialogues of Plato. New York: Random House, 1937. p. 280

He believes that education and nurture will bring reform in the State. All through out the training of the guardians virtues are being developed such as temperance, courage, and wisdom. Especially for the rulers -the philosopher kings. He ought to have gained all these qualities and more to rule the polis. And when they have made a good beginning in play, and by the help of music have gained the whole order, then this habit of order, in a manner how unlike the lawless play of others! Will accompany them in all their actions and is a principle of growth of them, and if there be any fallen places in the State will raise them up again. (IV, 425)10 Thus the principle of education governing the State with music brings order; as it is penetrated in the soul it will penetrate as well the whole city life. Platos methods apparently are autocratic however he argues that this is the only way to secure the sustainability of the just city. The just man is a subordinate of a just city hence only through education and nurture the just man is developed. The higher purpose of these methods is best illustrated in the interpretation of the allegory of the cave wherein those who have seen the light have the duty to let others ascend also in the light. The philosopher who had undergone the rigorous training has the knowing power thus has the duty to bring the citizens into the upper world. Thus neither the uneducated nor over educated will be good servants of the State. 11 Education is the root of change in the polis. As for our contemporary age indeed many invest so much to attain a good quality of education but there is also the reality that many also cannot afford to do so. This problem must be addressed if we to follow Platos ideals that education is the root of change. That more than the commercialized education that we have to determine our future jobs we must labor painstakingly if necessary in order to educate everyone. Right to education is a basic human right thus it is the duty of those educated, we on the academe to bring them to light.

10 11

Jowett, B. The Dialogues of Plato. New York: Random House, 1937. p. 687 Ed. Cantor, Norman & Klein, Peter. Ancient Thought Plato and Aristotle. USA: Blaisdell Publishing Company, 1960. p. 48

ATENEO DE NAGA UNIVERSITY

ROLE OF EDUCATION IN PLATOS REPUBLIC

ESTEVE, GLADYS B.
AB PHILOSOPHY-3

MR. ADRIAN REMODO

ADVISER

December 18, 2009