Plato’s Philosophy: Justice, Soul, and the Ideal State
Plato’s Ethics and Politics
When discussing Platonic ethics, it is crucial to note that the individual is entirely dependent on the state. An individual’s behavior is ethically correct when they act as a good citizen, always striving for justice. Justice reigns in the polis (city-state) only if harmony reigns within the soul of the city, and vice versa.
Achieving harmony in the soul is possible only if each of its component parts performs its proper function. Plato distinguishes three parts in the human soul:
- The Rational Part: Located in the head, this part is peculiar to humans, separate from the body, divine in nature, and immortal. It seeks wisdom and is capable of leading the other two parts.
- The Concupiscible Part: Located in the belly, this part is material, mortal, and corruptible, like the body itself. Its mission is to govern desires and appetites.
- The Irascible Part: Located in the chest, this part is also material, mortal, and corruptible. Its mission is to govern the will and spirit. It is through this part that human beings can overcome pain and resist the allure of pleasures.
Virtues of the Soul
Just as the rational part of the soul guides the other two, each part cultivates its corresponding virtue. The rational part strives for wisdom. The irascible and concupiscible parts also cultivate virtues specific to them: sophrosyne (moderation or temperance) and andreia (courage or fortitude).
In essence, Plato sought a perfectly intelligible governing principle for the soul.
The Ideal City and Governance
Guided by reason, the irascible part acquires the courage and strength needed to resist the allure of bodily pleasures. In this way, the soul achieves equilibrium and harmony, leading to what Plato called dikaiosyne (justice).
However, this dikaiosyne can only fully manifest if the city itself is perfectly governed. Plato postulated an ideal city ruled by those who have attained knowledge of the Forms (Ideas) and are capable of implementing true justice. He proposed that these rulers should be philosophers, whom he considered true “scientists” of governance.
This vision presents an aristocratic and elitist system, where the most virtuous and knowledgeable individuals govern. To achieve this ideal, Plato proposed a rigorous learning process designed to select the most suitable candidates for government and to determine each citizen’s position within the polis, based on the nature of their soul.
Plato’s educational project stood in stark contrast to that of the Sophists. Plato argued that it is the student who, through gradual discovery, uncovers the true facts, moving away from the sensible and material world.
Plato’s Social Classes
Based on the predominant part of the soul, Plato distinguished three social classes within his ideal city:
- Producers: This class is composed of citizens in whom the concupiscible part of the soul predominates. They include farmers, artisans, and merchants, primarily occupied with providing for the daily needs of the entire polis.
- Guardians (Auxiliaries): This class is composed of those in whom the irascible soul predominates. Their mission is to defend the state. Like the rulers, Plato deprived this class of the right to own private property, as their dedication to the common task must be total, and they should have no interests beyond the community’s welfare. Plato granted men and women of this class the same rights, obligations, and required the same kind of education.
- Rulers (Philosopher-Kings): This class consists of those in whom the rational part of the soul clearly dominates. They are chosen from the guardian class, and their superior knowledge—a form of intelligence—also implies generosity, altruism, and idealism. Their mission is to legislate, always striving to uphold the most rigorous justice. This virtue, justice, enables other virtues to take root in the polis.
This structure results in a perfectly organized city-state where citizens cultivate the virtues of their soul. This leads to a society where not only does justice prevail, but where it is rationally impossible for injustice or corruption to take root.