Plato, Ancient Greek philosopher

Ancient Greek philosopher Plato, no doubt the origin of the Western political philosophers as well as ethical thinking and master their metaphysics. His opinions in this field is read widely for more than 2300 years. No doubt, Plato as the father of an ancestral status of Western thinkers,
Plato was born of the famous family of Athens around the year 427 BC. In his teens he became acquainted with famous philosopher Socrates, who became a teacher and friend. 399 years BC, when Socrates was seventy years old, he was dragged into court with baseless accusations do shit and deprave the young generation Athens. Socrates was condemned, sentenced to death. Execution of Socrates - Plato called "the wisest, most honest, best of all human beings I have ever known" - make Plato hated democratic government.

Not long after the death of Socrates, Plato left Athens and during the ten-twelve years of wandering to where the feet take.

Around the year 387 BC he returned to Athens, founded the university there, a college that runs more than 900 years. Plato spent the rest of his life forty years in Athens, teaching and writing philosophy affairs. Famous pupil, Aristotle, who were college students at the age of seventeen, while Plato was time turns sixty years. Plato blind eye at the age of seventy.

Plato wrote no fewer than thirty-six books, mostly about political issues and ethics than metaphysics and theology. Of course, impossible to summarize the contents of the book in just a few sentences. However, with the risk of simplifying his thoughts, I will try also to summarize the main points presented in her politic. idea that famous book, the Republic, which represent his thoughts about what he thought of an ideal society.

The best form of a government, Plato suggested, is a government that is held by the aristocrats. What is meant here rather than aristocratic aristocratic measured from the high dose, the government set in motion by the best and wisest son in the country. These people should be chosen not by voting but by people with the decision process. The people who have become members of the ruling or the called the "guardian" must be added the people who merely equals on the basis of quality considerations.

Plato believed that for all people, whether he was male or female, must be provided the opportunity to show skill as a member of the "guardian". Plato is the first major philosopher, and in the long term it's just the fact he, who proposed the equality of opportunity regardless of sex. To prove the equality provision of the occasion, Plato suggested that the growth and education of children is managed by the state. The children first kudu obtain a thorough physical exercise, but in terms of music, mathematics and other academic disciplines should not be ignored. At some stage, extensive tests must be conducted. Those who are less advanced must participate diaalurkan to engage in community economic activities, while the people who must continue to proceed forward and receive training gemblengan. The addition of this education should include not only the usual academic subjects, but also explore the philosophy that by examining the doctrine of Plato is the ideal form of schools of metaphysics.

At the age of thirty-five years, these people are indeed totally convinced able to demonstrate mastery in the field of basic theories, must undergo additional training again for fifteen years, which should include working for practical experience. Only people who are able to show that they can realize the real work in the form of the books he studied can be classified into the "guardian class." More than that, only people who clearly could. shows that the main interest is to serve the interests of society that can be accepted into the. "guardian class."

Membership guardian does not necessarily attract public attention. Because, to be guardian is not much to get money. They are only allowed to have private property and a limited amount of land should not have made his personal home. They receive a certain salary and fixed (it was in a modest amount), and not allowed to have gold or silver. Members guardian is not allowed to have a separate family place, they must eat in unison, a pair together. Reward-frontman frontman for this philosopher rather than wealth, but the satisfaction in serving the public interest. That's short of an ideal republic of Plato.

Widely read of the Republic for centuries. But it should be noted, advocated a political system in it has never actually practiced as a model of any government. During the period between the time of Plato until now, most European countries adopted the royal system. In recent centuries some countries adopt democratic forms of government. There is also the adopted system of military rule, or under the tyrannical demagogues such as Hitler and Mussolini. None of these governments have a resemblance to Plato's ideal republic. Plato's theory was never a conviction of any political party, or so base a political movement as occurs in the teachings of Karl Marx, if we can thus conclude that the work of Plato, although discussed with respect, is entirely excluded people in practice? I think not.

It is true, none of the civil government in Europe was based on Plato's model directly. However, there are remarkable similarities between the Catholic church's position in the middle of the century Europe with the "guardian class" Plato. Medieval Catholic Church consists of the elite who defend themselves in order not to wither and marginalized, whose members have a philosophical exercises official. In principle, all men, no matter where their origin can be selected in the clergy (although not for women). Also, in principle, the priests had no family and are solely directed them to focus on their own group, rather than lust exalted majesty flattered.

The role of the Communist party in the Soviet Union there is also a comparison with the "guardian class" in Plato's ideal republic he had. Here too we find that all of the elite group trained by the official philosophy.

Plato's ideas also influenced the structure of the United States government. Many members of the American constitutional convention known and familiar with the political ideas of Plato. He meant, of course, that the United States Constitution opens the possibility of digging and influence the will of the people. And also desirable as a means of selecting people who are most wise and best to govern the country.

Difficulty determining the significance of Plato's influence throughout the period - although the vast and spread out - is complicated and is not exposed directly. In addition to his political theory, the discussion in the field of ethics and metaphysics has influenced many philosophers who came later. If Plato placed on slightly lower order than Aristotle in the current list, it is primarily because Aristotle is not only a philosopher but also an important scientist. Conversely, placement of the order of Plato higher than thinkers like John Locke, Thomas Jefferson and Voltaire, why because the writings of political influence world affairs in a period of just two or three centuries, while Plato had coverage for more than twenty-three centuries.Michael H. Hart,One hundred most influential figures in the history.