The Story of Utopias · Chapter
VIII explained
Plato's Republic is examined in detail, focusing on his division of society into three classes—guardians, auxiliaries, and workers—based on a comparison of the state to a human soul with virtues of wisdom, valor, temperance, and justice.
What happens
Plato's Republic is examined in detail, focusing on his division of society into three classes—guardians, auxiliaries, and workers—based on a comparison of the state to a human soul with virtues of wisdom, valor, temperance, and justice. Plato's methods for perpetuating the ideal state include breeding, education, and daily discipline, with a system of common marriage and eugenic selection among the guardians, while allowing natural talent to determine class membership.
Themes in this chapter
Duality of Human Existence
Plato's division of the state mirrors the human soul, balancing wisdom, valor, temperance, and justice.
Utopia as Progress and Escape
Plato's Republic is presented as an ideal state achieved through rational planning and eugenic selection.
The Role of Ideas and Myths
The 'medicinal lie' of the metals (gold, silver, brass, iron) is used to justify class roles and maintain social order.
Characters to notice
- Plato
Central figure of the chapter; his Republic and its class division, breeding, and education methods are analyzed.
- Aristotle
Mentioned as a critic of Plato's class division from a democratic perspective.
- Socrates
Implied as the speaker in Plato's dialogues, particularly in the discussion of the Republic.
Key passages
“Justice is the ultimate cause and condition of all of them. … If a question should arise as to which of these four qualities contributed most by their presence to the excellence of the State … namely, 'everyone doing his own work and not being a busybody'—the question would not be easily determined.”
Justice is the foundational virtue of Plato's ideal state, defined as each person performing their own role without interfering in others' duties.
Highlights the central role of justice in Plato's utopia.
“Citizens, we shall say to them in our tale, you are brothers, yet God has framed you differently. Some of you have the power to command, and these he has composed of gold, wherefore also they have the greatest honor; others of silver, to be auxiliaries; others again who are to be husbandmen and craftsmen he has made of brass and iron; and the species will generally be preserved in the children.”
Plato's 'noble lie' asserts that people are born with different metals in their souls, determining their class, but children may differ from parents, allowing mobility.
Illustrates the myth used to justify social hierarchy and natural selection of talents.
“The wives of these guardians are to be common, and their children are also common, and no parent is to know his own child, nor any child his parent.”
Among the guardian class, marriage and child-rearing are communal to prevent nepotism and promote eugenic breeding.
Describes Plato's radical proposal for common property in family life.