Education in Plato's Republic

The Role of Education

Education should make people fit for their different social roles; as he said, A
purpose of education is to create a balance, a harmonious state; where the workers
are to be trained to obey their masters and offer important economic services to the
state1[18].
Education also helps to prepare the ruler of the state, on this he said,

Plato

PLATOS CONCEPT OF EDUCATION

1.1 The Meaning of Education
I have already explained in the introduction the general meaning of education,
which is the transfer of knowledge from one generation to another. However, Plato
would say that:

education the initial acquisition of virtue by the child, when the feelings of pleasure and
affection, pain and hatred, that well up in his soul are channelled in the right courses before he
can understand the reason why education, then is a matter of correctly disciplined feelings of
pleasure and pain 2[6].
Apart from this definition, Plato sees education as to ensure that the habit and
aspirations of the old generation are transmitted to the younger- and then
presumably to the next one after that 3[7]. Means of transmitting knowledge
according to Plato are: father-and- son and teacher- and- pupil; but beyond these,
there are others, such as mother- and- child, Officer- and soldier, court, priest- and
layman, speaker-and- audience, Lawyer-and- Law 4[8].

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Platos Understanding of Education

If one studies Platos morality, politics, education etc. one cannot avoid reading his
Allegory of the Cave, and the theory of a divided line. It is upon these theories Plato
departed in making the explanation of education. There is a great similarity
between the Allegory of the Cave and the theory of a divided line due to the fact
that all have been divided into two worlds i.e. the world of shadow and the world of
ideas. In these theories, Plato wanted to show how an individual could acquire
knowledge from one stage to another. In these different stages of development of
human mind, Plato assigned a kind of soul. In the allegory of the cave, Plato says
that,

most mankind, this allegory would suggest, dwells in the darkness of the cave. They have
oriented their thoughts around the blurred world of shadow. It is the function of education to lead
men out of the cave into the world of light. Education is not what some people declare it to be,
namely, putting knowledge into souls that lack it, like putting sight into a blind eye. Knowledge
is like vision in that it requires an organ capable in receiving it. Just as the prisoner had to turn
his whole body around in order that his eyes could see the light in stead of the darkness, so also it
is necessary for the entire soul to turn away from the deceptive world of change and appetite that
causes a blindness of the soul5[9].
However, according to Plato, education is a matter of conversion. i.e. a complete
turn around from the world of appearances to the world of the reality. The
conversion of the souls, says Plato, is not to put the power of sight in the souls
eye, which already has it, but to insure that, instead of looking in the wrong
direction, it is turned the way it ought to be 6[10].
On the other hand, it is showing that the power to learn is present in anyones soul
and that the instrument with which each learns, is like an eye that can not be
turned around from darkness to light without turning the whole body.
Following this statement one can realise that because every one possesses the
power to learn in his soul, what is needed is to turn our soul in a proper way that is
to prepare a good environment for learning. It is shown that the more you move up
the more you acquire knowledge. Plato sees various stages of the human mind i.e.
from ignorance to true knowledge. The lowest stage of knowledge is imagination:
Here the mind confronts images, or at least the amount of reality 7[11]. In using
the word imagination Plato wanted to show simply the sense experience of
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appearances wherein these appearances are taken as true reality 8[12]. The
characteristic of this stage is the failure of one to know what is shadow or an image,
this man is not aware that he is observing such a thing i.e. image. Plato assigned to
this stage the appetitive soul. A further stage of development of human mind is
belief. So to a certain extent there is a light compared with the lowest stage; there
is a strong feeling of certainty, but not absolute certainty. Someone can observe
things that are visible and tangible but Plato would say visible objects depend upon
their context for many of their characteristics 9[13]. To this stage, Plato also
assigned the appetitive soul. All these stages of development of human mind are
found in the world of shadow; finishing these stages one can now move from one
world to another, i.e. from visible world to the intelligible world. Thinking was the
stage where the great lights are found; entering into this world you have already
moved from the realm of opinion to the realm of thinking; reason is used here. The
act of moving from the visible world to the intelligible world is progress; but it needs
effort and mental discipline. The last stage of development of the human mind is
the attainability of perfect knowledge. Perfect intelligence represents the mind as
completely released from sensible objects. At this level, the mind is dealing directly
with the forms.10[14] Knowledge that was discussed by Plato was not knowledge of
particulars but was knowledge of universals; knowledge of particulars was in the
lowest stage while knowledge of universals was equated as abstract.
In short, the theory of the divided line contains four sections; which are intelligence
for the highest, thinking for the second, belief for the third and the lower section is
imagination. Moving from one stage to another need effort and mental discipline
hence one cannot acquire knowledge without great effort.
In every place where Sophists appear in the dialogue, the process of education was
given some examination, even when military life is discussed. Likewise some
educative features were also mentioned. We can see how much the question of
education was considered or how much education was given priority. The whole
process of learning requires teachers and students; teachers are the ones

What is the Republic?

The Republic is a dialogue written by Plato in around 380 BC, after his return to Athens. It aims
to discover the definition of justice through conceiving the ideal city (Plato termed this the
Kallipolis, which is Greek for beautiful city) and the ideal individual. The idea is that once
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you have the ideal city/individual, you would then be able to discover the true meaning of justice
within these ideal entities. The dialogues take place between Socrates and various other
characters in the span of a single day, and their intellectual debates eventually lead the reader
towards the true meaning of Justice.
Summary of Education in the Republic
To get a good idea of public education, read Platos Republic. It is not a political treatise, as
those who merely judge books by their title think, but it is the finest, most beautiful work on
education ever written. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
To conceive the ideal city and individual, we would need to have the ideal education. The four
aspects of education in the Republic are Music, Gymnastics, Mathematics and Dialectics.
There are three key components in our soul: the appetitive, the spirited, and the rational. The
appetitive part of the soul desires pleasure (lust, greed, materialistic desires), the spirited part is
aggressive and seeks honor, while the rational part is concerned with acquiring wisdom and
knowledge.
Platos education of music, gymnastics, mathematics and dialectics in the Republic helps to
ensure that these three components of the soul are in harmony with each other. If the
appetitive component is too strong, we would have an unhealthy soul with too much greed and
lust. If we were too spirited, we would become overly aggressive. Finally, if we were too
concerned with gaining wisdom at the expense of developing other parts of our soul, we would
not be well-balanced individuals (or as known in modern times, nerds). Therefore, having a
proper education is important to keep these three components balanced.
When I first read the Republic as a teenager, I was intrigued by the ideal education outlined in
the dialogue. I became deeply passionate about personal growth and improvement. Like JeanJacques Rousseau, I found the Republic to be one of the best and most beautiful works on
education ever written. It has changed my life ever since. I became more serious about music,
fitness, my college education, and reading good books. I strived to apply the broad principles of
the Republics education in my life, and I aspired to become a well-rounded individual with the
three components of appetite, spirit and rational in proper equilibrium. In the below section, I
will explain each aspect of music, gymnastics, mathematics and dialectics, and show you how
you can apply the Republics ancient knowledge to improve your life.
Music
Music in the Republic refers to both literary education and conventional music/melody. For
literary education, children should be told stories and tales that exemplify courage, temperance,

and justice. These stories would help to carve a proper moral nature from young. The stories
should not reward unjust actions or encourage improper behavior. For example, the story of
Achilles lamenting the loss of Patroclus in Homers The Iliad should be excluded from all tales
as it shows overly excessive emotion. In this epic poem, Achilles displays an extreme outpouring
of grief when his cousin Patroclus is killed in the Trojan War. This is a quote from the Republic:
Achilles, who is the son of a goddess, first lying on his side, then on his back, and then on his
face; then starting up and sailing in a frenzy along the shores of the barren sea; now taking the
sooty ashes in both his hands and pouring them over his head, or weeping and wailingrolling
in the dirt, calling each man loudly by his name (you get the idea)
For conventional melody and song, the Republic advocates that we should only listen to sober
music that expresses courage and temperance. Therefore, music should only be composed in two
harmonies: the Dorian and the Phrygian. According to Plato, these two harmonies would
imitate the note or accent note or accent which a brave man utters in warlike action and in stern
resolve. Similarly, the rhythms in music should also be good rhythms that represent the
aforementioned qualities of courage and temperance.
How Music Can Improve Your Life
At first glance, the Republics musical education may seem a little strange (ok maybe absurd) to
some people. For example, why should we only listen to music in two harmonies? That would
exclude 90% of all classical and contemporary music we have today. Restricting the rhythms of
music would further limit our choices.
However, it is not necessary to follow the Republics musical education to a tee. We would be
best served by following its broad principles. This applies to the other aspects of gymnastics,
mathematics and dialectics too. So how do you apply the broad principles of the Republics
musical education to improve your life?
With regards to literary education, we should follow Platos advice and read books that imbue us
with good values and morals. By indulging in good books and knowledge, we enrich ourselves
and engage in self-growth. When I read a good book (non-fiction or fiction), it brings me to a
different place intellectually and opens up my mind to look at the world from new perspectives. I
recommend reading (at the very least) one book a month. A good place to start would be Susan
Bauers The Well-Educated Mind: A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had . This is
a well-written book with concise and clear explanations/histories of five literary genres (fiction,
autobiography, history, drama, poetry) along with annotated lists of recommended readings. The
books that Bauer recommend are definitive classics and you will not go wrong with them.
As for music, Im sure you enjoy listening to songs as a form of relaxation and enjoyment.
Therefore, you should never stop seeking good music. Music enriches your soul and life. There

is always time to listen to music, whether its when you are surfing the net, on the way to work,
or when you are in the kitchen preparing food. Personally, I enjoy listening to both classical
(Bach, Tchaikovsky, Schubert are some of my favorites) and contemporary music (John Mayer,
Dream Theater, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, to name a few). However, this is a matter
of personal preference, and Im sure your musical tastes will be different from mine. If you are
interested, it is good to pick up a musical instrument too. Personally, I play the guitar and it is a
deep source of enjoyment for me. Learning to play an instrument teaches you the value of
discipline, time management and diligence. In short, being passionate about music enriches your
soul and makes your life more fulfilling.
Gymnastics
Gymnastics in the Republic refers to physical training of the body. There is also a brief note on
the ideal diet. For physical training, the training regime should be simple and functional. It
should not be over-complicated to the point whereby if one deviates from the usual routine, he
would fall ill easily. That would be counter-productive. Instead, the training should be simple and
straightforward. The main goal is to increase functional strength and create a healthy body.
As for diet, one should not indulge in lavish feasts and copious amounts of food. Instead, the
ideal diet should consist of simple and healthy fare, taken in moderation.
Contrary to common interpretations, musical education is not solely for the soul nor gymnastics
solely for the body. Instead, both types of education aim to improve the soul. Too much physical
training causes one to become overly aggressive, while too much music and literary causes one
to become overly soft. Hence, a good balance of music and gymnastics would engender a nice
harmony in the soul and prevent one from being too effeminate or too savage.
How Gymnastics Can Improve Your Life
Im sure you are already aware of the many benefits of exercise. Cardio training is good for your
heart and general health. Resistance training increases strength, improves posture, and helps you
maintain a youthful and attractive physique. Exercising also helps to relieve stress and makes
you happier by releasing the happy hormones endorphins into to your body. As for diet, it is
important to eat simple and healthy food. This means eating more vegetables and unprocessed
food (brown rice, whole-grain food), and avoiding fried food and trans fat (no fast food please!).
Working out has improved my confidence and health immensely. I have put on about 30lbs of
muscle mass since I started lifting weights. I look better physically and my clothes fit better.
Recently, I went for a health checkup and all my indicators were well within the healthy levels.
After looking through my results, my doctor simply shrugged his shoulders and said to me with a
smile: Well theres nothing much for me to say except to keep up the good work!.

Personally, I agree with the Republics philosophy that exercise should be simple. I have been
working out for about ten years and have gone through countless resources on fitness and
strength-training. After a decade of hard work, I have grown to realize that working out should
be easy. At the end of the day, working out is simply about having a straightforward workout
routine and a healthy diet. Most of the complicated and expensive training programs in the
market are just fads with the sole aim of making profits and do not provide real benefits.
A good place to start would be www.EvansWorkout.com. At EvansWorkout, similar to the
Republic, we believe that working out should be easy. The site provides tons of simple workout
information gleaned from countless resources that will teach you how to exercise and eat the
correct way.
Mathematics
In book seven of the Republic, Plato talks about mathematics and dialectics. Mathematics
refers to four branches of study: Mathematics, Plane Geometry, Solid Geometry and Astronomy.
Earlier on, Plato had explained the roles of Music and Gymnastics in education. However, even
though these two aspects are useful, they do not teach you about knowledge and wisdom.
Instead, they only help to create a harmonious soul (one that is neither too effeminate nor too
savage) through the influence of habits. In the context of my examples, they simply assist to
inculcate good values and habits such as reading, listening to music, exercising, and having a
proper diet.
Therefore, one would need an advanced education in mathematics to achieve true wisdom. One
should first study mathematics, followed by plane geometry, solid geometry and astronomy
(study in the motion of celestial objects) respectively. Studying these disciplines seriously will
lead one towards the ultimate truth and wisdom. This is because music and gymnastics are
mainly concerned with visible and tangible things such as health and literary education, while
mathematics deals with problems that can only be solved through intellectual deduction.
Therefore, since the ultimate truth can only be attained through pure reasoning, mathematics
helps to develop our mind so that it will be robust enough to achieve pure wisdom and
knowledge.
How Mathematics Can Improve Your Life
The influence of the Republics mathematical education can definitely be seen in our education
system today. From young, we are taught basic arithmetic, before progressing on to algebra and
geometry in the latter stages of our education. Those who are interested can opt to get a college
degree in mathematics, but at the very least we are all subjected to a compulsory education in the
foundation of mathematics at a young age.

Personally, I feel that the basic mathematical foundation we get as teenagers suffices in our quest
to become a well-educated and well-rounded individual. I do not really think it is necessary to
get the in-depth mathematical education described in the Republic.
That said, if you happen to be specializing in some mathematical-related field, it is definitely
beneficial for your mind. For example, I have friends who are physicists and engineers by
training, and you can tell that they are able to analyze things in a quick and logical manner.
Personally, my mathematical education comes from Microsoft Excel VBA Programming.
According to Steve Jobs, everyone should learn how to program a computer, because it teaches
you how to think. There is certainly truth in this statement. I only got into programming when I
started my corporate job. Prior to that, I had never done any form of programming before. Once
I started learning VBA, I realized that I had to think hard about how to write the codes in a
proper and logical way. If I did not do so, there would be errors and the program would not run
or crash halfway while running. Hence, programming trains my mind by forcing me to think
logically. As Steve Jobs puts it, it teaches me how to think.
Dialectics
Dialectic, the final aspect of the Republics education, is the culmination of the first three
components of education. In the dialogue, Socrates states that everything that has been discussed
thus far is simply a preclude to the ultimate education: dialectics. The first three aspects of
music, gymnastics and mathematics simply ensure that the student is ready to engage in
dialectics training.
We can only achieve absolute wisdom and truth through dialectics. This is because music and
gymnastics only deal with visible and tangible things such as health and literary education, while
mathematics is basically a tool to train and develop the mind. However, dialectics is the ultimate
discipline that will lead us towards pure truth and wisdom.
Dialectics (known as the Socratic method in modern times) involves the asking and answering of
philosophical questions between individuals. Individuals engage in debates with each other as a
way of gaining philosophical insights. If the individuals have been properly educated, these
insights will be the pure truths. On the other hand, if they were not well-trained in the first three
aspects, they would not be able to gain such insights. For example, if an individual were not
good in mathematics, how would he be able to derive the true laws of physics through dialectics?
How Dialectics Can Improve Your Life
Similar to Plato, I believe that it is important to have a good foundation in music, gymnastics and
mathematics so that we can engage in dialectics effectively. Music helps you attain general

knowledge, gymnastics improves your health and confidence, and mathematics trains you to
have a sharp mind. Being a well-rounded individual, you would then be able to engage in fun
and intellectual conversations with your friends (and have a higher chance of winning the
argument!).
For me, I enjoy debating with my friends about various issues while chilling out at a pub over
some nice cold beer. Obviously, these issues are not restricted to philosophical topics but also
include politics, books, finance, and other random issues that interest us. These debates improve
my understanding of the issues because I am forced to think about them on a deeper level in the
debates, and very often I gain new perspectives and insights after the friendly arguments.
When I read, I try to engage in conversations with the book. I do not accept the books
contents blindly, but instead I read critically and always try to analyze if the author is making a
wrong statement or judgment. After I finish reading a book, I will normally write a short
summary to organize my thoughts and improve my understanding of its contents. When I meet
up with my friends, I will bring up some of the interesting points in the book to initiate a
intellectual conversation or debate.
Conclusion
When you first read the Republic, some of the ideas in the book may seem strange or even
absurd. For example, Plato states that children in the Kallipolis must be separated from their
parents at birth to be raised in common nurseries, that mating can only take place at mating
festivals once a year, and that soldiers can kiss anyone they desire in their hometown when
they are at war, etc. I shall not discuss about the validity of these ideas because that would be
beyond the scope of this article. However, even the Republics most ardent critics will have to
admit that it is one of the greatest work of philosophy ever written. One cannot deny that Platos
Republic laid the foundation for much of Western philosophy and politics. The fact that we are
still reading and contemplating the books ideas more than two thousand years after it was
written is testament to its timeless value.
I strongly encourage you to read the entire dialogue from start to end. It is impossible to gain a
meaningful understanding of the Republic if you only rely on summaries and notes. I have read
the Republic multiple times and I still gain new insights each time. You can purchase the edition
I read here.
I sincerely hope you will apply the principles of Platos ideal education to improve your life.
Thanks for reading!