Education In Plato's Republic

_______ In Plato’s Republic, Socrates uses the metaphor of Kallipolis to demonstrate the idea of justice in a city to allow for a closer inspection of justice in the individual. This city is ruled by a guardian class, raised from childhood to be perfect leaders, or as Socrates puts it, philosopher kings. In order for this graced individuals to come about, they must go through rigorous physical conditioning and partake in a comprehensive musical education. This musical education differs from that of a traditional Greek citizen not only in its intensity, but also in its subject matter. Many of the traditional songs, poems, epics, works of art, and works of literature used in education would be removed by virtue of the censorship Socrates deems

He rather reluctantly tells Glaucon of his “single noble lie that would, preferably, persuade even the rulers themselves,” (414c) - the Myth of the Metals. His goal in this is to create a tale that will be believed by their sons, by later generations, and all people who come after because “all this will go where tradition leads,” (414e). To ban stories entirely would prevent him from implementing this measure, which he uses to establish social order and hierarchy. XXXX

The stringent rules of Socrates’ censorship are designed to expose the citizens of Kallipolis to only the most virtuous exemplars of literature, poetry, and art in order to teach them how to live that life for themselves. The classic works of Hesiod and Homer are either castrated or banned entirely for fear of the disturbing and disruptive ideas and imagery they present. In much the same way, Plato’s Republic itself would have to be pared down into acceptable chunks, ready for consumption by the public, were it to be allowed at

First and foremost, it fails to adhere to the long-winded rules of imitation. The entire Republic is Plato’s attempts to imitate Socrates and his beliefs. Although Socrates could be considered to be a noble man to imitate and therefore Plato should not cower at imitating him, for he is a “good man...acting in a faultless and intelligent manner,” (396d) there is the presence of bullheaded Thrasymachus to be considered. In addition, Socrates himself engages in many acts of imitation throughout the Republic in his examples and theoretical