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Western Political Thought

Notes members. Of the 37 guardians, the director of education and certain priests were chosen for their
virtue. This council was above the law, with powers to control and direct all legal institutions of
the state. The nocturnal council was similar to the philosopher ruler of the Republic. Through an
elaborate process, the council of 360 persons would be chosen. Candidates would be chosen by the
entire citizen body from each of the four classes into which the city had been divided on the basis
of wealth. Here Plato reiterated the divisions made by Solon and Cleithenes (515-495 BC). In the
second election, all citizens would reduce the candidates from each class to 180. Finally, 90 would
be selected through a system of draw of lots from each of the four categories. Plato believed that
the political system should reflect the economic divisions of the city. With regard to public
appointments, Plato recommended the blending of aristocratic nomination and popular elections.
Plato also looked to the topography of a city. The ideal was a self-sufficient agricultural community
capable of sustaining a rugged and temperate populace. He believed that a common race, language,
law and religion were desirable, but did not place undue emphasis on them. He reiterated his
inherent distrust and dislike for commercialism and industrialism.
Like the Republic, even in the Laws Plato looked to education as holding a decisive position, both
with regard to the maintenance of the polis and the improvement of laws. The guardians of the law
were to appoint a committee of women, who, through persuasion and gentle pressure, would see
to the strict adherence of marriage laws, so that reproduction was kept under control. In the case
of a couple having no children, divorce was recommended after 10 years of marriage. Certain
members of the committee would act as matrons, supervising the very young and the nurses. The
child began formal education at the age of three, and till six would receive flexible training. The
emphasis again was to develop the “natural” talent as far as possible. At the age of six, the two
sexes would be separated, but both boys and girls would receive a long public education under
teachers paid by the polis.
Plato reiterated the need for training in music and gymnastics, similar to the recommendations in
the Republic. He also recommended rigorous censorship of literature and art, equal educational
opportunities for women, and compulsory education for all. However, he gave greater attention to
religion which would be regulated and supervised by the state. He forbade any kind of private
religious exercises that undermined the unity of the state, and advocated performance of public
rites by authorized priests. In the process, he undermined the influence of disorderly religion that
held sway over women and hysterical persons. For Plato, religion provided a set of rules of
conduct and was closely linked to one’s moral behaviour. He recommended harsh penalties,
including death for atheists. Laws would be both educational and coercive. As tools of education,
they would teach the individual how to live best, and as instruments of coercion, they would
compel those who refused to obey.
Self-Assessment
Fill in the blanks:
1. Plato listed four types of states: Timocracy, Oligarchy, Democracy and ............... .
2. Higher education was given at the age of ............... .
3. Plato viewed the ideal age for marriage to be between 25 and 55 for men and ............... for
women.
4. Thymos, an ally of reason, was a distinct quality representing ............... .

2.5 Summary

• Plato’s society was highly structured, ordered, hierarchical, regimented and meritocratic,
where everyone was expected to perform the duties that were allotted. Unlike Smith, Plato
did not view division of labour as a economic matter. Specialization was a fundamental

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