Platos theory of education

Department of

I.R ,UG1 Roll No.1

Joeun kim

Synopsis:
THIS PAPER PRESENTATION AIMS TO EXPLAIN THE BASIC IDEA IN PLATO'S THEORY OF
EDUCATION AND A SUBTLE COMPARISON TO MODERN EDUCATION. pLATO'S IDEA OF EDUCATION
REFERS TO THE ALLEGORY OF CAVE, WHICH SUGGESTS A SHIFT FROM DARKNESS OR CHAOS TO
LIGHT. IMAGINE BEING IN A LIBRARY OF WELL ORGANISED AND CATALOGUED INFORMATION AND
BEING IN A ROADSIDE BOOKSHOP WHERE A LOT OF GOOD BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE BUT THE READER
HAS TO RELY ON THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SELLER.
IT IS HIS ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE THERE IS AN IDEA OF CHAOS AND ORDER, A CLEAR
DEMARCATION OF LACK OF ENLIGHTENMENT OF THE SOUL OR ABSENCE OF KNOWLEDGE OR
EDUCATION. pLATOS KNOWLEDGE SHARING OR IMPARTING OF EDUCATION IS BASED ON HIERARCHY
AND ALSO EDUCATION GATHERED FROM EXPERIENCE. pLATO REFERS TO THREE LEVELS OF
EDUCATION READING AND WRITING THAT REFERS TO PRACTICAL EDUCATION, THEN THERE IS
THE IDEA PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND LASTLY LITERAL EDUCATION IN ORDER TO DEVELOP
MORALITY IN THE SOUL. THE IDEA OF ENLIGHTENMENT OF SOUL WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT
FACTOR IN pLATO'S EDUCATION. tHIS IS WHERE HE MENTIONS THE PERFECT HIERARCHY COMING
FROM A PHILOSOPHER KING, AS PLATO'S IDEA OF EDUCATION ALSO CORRESPONDS TO HIS
tHEORY OF COMMUNISM. For understanding of the theory easily, I compare between
platos education society and modern education society.

Lets compare between the SITUATION WITHIN A of library and the function of street
AT A ROADSIDE bookstore. There can be divided the difference into one big branch
and small

branch belong under it.

The biggest point OF DIFFERENCE is order and disorder. Librarys books are well
ORGANISED orderd and

on the other hand , the street bookstore REFERS TO CHAOS OR DARKNESS OF SOUL OR
LACK OF MORALITY IN SPITE OF PRACTICAL PRESENCE OF EDUCATION. wHAT PLATO REFERRED
TO EDUCATION IS NOT JUST READING, WRITING, OR PHYSICAL EDUCATION OR MORALITY BUT
AN ALROUND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOUL TO ACHIEVE ENLIGHTENMENT. is disorder than the
library .The

belonging point is whether we can find easily or not. Such as street

bookstore, we have to ask to shop owner, because it is disordered so that we

need the help but the function of library is different from the function of street

bookstore. It is well ordered that we do not need any help from librarian. Unlike

the street bookstore, everyone can find in the library.

By definition, Education involves teaching people various subjects, usually at

school or college, or being taught. Also in its broadest meaning, education is any

process by which an individual gains knowledge or insight, or develops attitudes

or skill1[1].All men are equal under the education as like one of the function of

the library.

The Greek society is socially, politically and religiously IN A STATE OF CHAOS AND
CORRUPTION, NOT JUST OF STATE BUT BASICALLY OF THE MIND. Thats why

Socrates (platos teacher) wants to correct social evil through the knowledge in

order to know the virtue. Plato is deeply touched with the dictum of his teacher

and he starts with fundamental proposition and feels that virtue in a citizen may

be cultivated only through a good system of education.

Plato says that education is the required for enlightenment of soul. He also

suggested that education makes a person self-CONSCIOUS and enlightened and

suggested various subjects INCLUSIVE IN CREATING THIS EDUCATION. Platos emphasis

is concentrated on the point: A

really good education will furnish the best safeguards. The great thing is

education and its nurture.

For example, as marriage ,the possession of women and the procreation of the

children, which will follow the general principle that friends have all things in

common, as the proverb says. This means that any knowledge or moralities or

anything, which can be transmitted by people be transmitted , based on the

platos idea of education.

1[1] The Encyclopaedia Americana, 642.

The system of education is divided two aspects as individual and social. The first

aspect of Individual is individually for the realization of the justice and

other aspect of social is socially preparing citizens at proper station.

There is no bar of sex or social status in matter of educational accomplishment.

The very purpose of the educational system is to produce good citizens-

socially, economically and politically. Though meant for the creation of

perfect guardian in the ideal state , its provision is open for all in the

earlier stage of life.

In addition to what plato did for the women, plato does not suggest separate

curriculum for the women .Women should also be educated in music and
gymnastics as well as the art of war. He says that women and girls should

undergo the same gymnastic and military services as men and boys.

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 state2

Plan of education has a detailed education curriculum in Elementary and Higher

levels his book, Republic. The elementary stage begins from infancy and lasts till

the age of 20. It has different phases. The elementary subjects of the study are

gymnastics and music. The former trains the body for the sake of min and elicits

the qualities of courage and endurance so as to produce the temper and spirit.

The higher stage of education beginning from the age of 21and running till the age

50 is privilege of the selected few. It is meant for giving vocational knowledge

and practical training to the guardians alone.

Platos theory of education, justice and communism is interlinked and is

construct on ideal state .It is the end and justice, education and communism are

the means. So his system of education take care all the classes. It means that

there is no existence about the exception of the economic class from the

provision of the education.

Though he said that, actually he is one of the communism follower in some ways

so that he strives the guardians those who can train for education to leave the

section of the numerous husbandmen, artisan and toiler to the state of ignorance

and inadequate education. Plato does not at all the bother for the education of the

economic classes.

For understanding of the theory easily, I compare between platos education

society and modern education society.

In platos period is agricultural society ,which was less diversity than modern

society and simplicated. One of the feature of platos education in society has an

inter personal performance as wider spread as like family , because A really good
education will furnish the best safeguards and its nurture. Unlike agriculture

society , in modern society is an information industrial society , which is

diversity

and complicated. The modern system of education is too much regulated so that

the way of teaching values became less inter personal performance and as like

mechanization to rear the students. Modern education has provided all the

economic class unlike his systems of education but modern education also has

other problem.

Plato has initiated theory of education as he said It will provide best safeguards

for the Ideal state. There are two stages for understanding of the his system of

education. First initial stage, cognizance : Power of understanding relations

catching the idea.

Last stage, conviction: strong belief social science deals with ideas , concepts,

institution. He wanted social science , cognizance.

Platos main purpose was to construct on ideal state. He said that If all people
are

good educated, they will look at other matters like administration, bearing up of

children and etc.

Plato says that it looks like putting before the young all that is good and
beautiful.

It is possible only through education. Plato said that it is only education that
all

the evil things in the society would be eliminated. Plato was the propergator the

dictum of his Republic virtue is knowledge. He believed that it was lack of virtue

for which Socrates committed suicide. He says that There is no bar of gender or

social status in matters of education. Plato theory of education has virtually

come from spartas theory of education.