Transcription
[Music] hello and welcome to philosophy vibe, the channel where we discuss and debate different philosophical ideas. Today, we're going to be focusing on the works of the great ancient Greek philosopher Plato and taking a look at his concept of the perfect city-state, as featured in his book, The Republic.
Amazing! The Republic was a book written in 375 BC by Plato. However, this book is presented as a dialogue between Plato's teacher, Socrates, and various other characters. As Socrates never actually wrote any of his philosophies down, there is a debate as to whether the views exposed in this book were actually Socrates's views and just documented or authored by Plato, or whether this was Plato's philosophy and Socrates was merely used as a character in the book. For the purpose of this video, we are going to refer to Socrates as the philosopher in question.
So then, The Republic is a profound and intricate work that looks into topics such as what is justice, the good human, the happy life, and the perfect society. In this video, we are just going to look into Socrates's vision of the perfect society, and we will be analyzing this hypothetical utopia and if we would agree this would be the best city-state to live in. Great, let's begin.
Very well. So, after a lengthy debate and discussion around the concept of justice and a just society, Socrates gives his account of what he calls the Callipolis. In Greek, *kalli* meaning good or beautiful, and *polis* meaning city. So then, this is the perfect utopian city. Socrates takes on a deep discussion as to what this would look like. We would, of course, begin with the basics, the necessities that all humans would need to live: food, clothing, health, and shelter. Here, the people would find those that best suit the positions of farmers, craftsmen, and doctors.
Once the basic necessities are taken care of, the people can start thinking about luxuries. This is when positions such as poets, merchants, and traders, sportsmen, beauticians, and inventors will arise. I see. Here we have the first class of people in the city, known as the producers. The producer class are the ones who produce everything the city needs to run, from the necessities to the luxuries, right? Now, it is vital to this perfect society that everyone must always stick to the positions they are best suited for. Once your area of expertise and specialization is discovered, that is your role for life. So, if I started off as a craftsman and I was a great builder, but I wanted to try becoming a poet, this society would not allow me, correct? The only way a perfect society would function is if everyone sticks with their area of expertise. But what if I do not want to do this anymore? What if this would make me unhappy? Socrates argued that people will naturally gravitate to the area they specialize and excel in. It was natural that people do what they are meant to do, and this is what makes them happy. However, even if there are some anomalies, you must remember this perfect society is about the happiness and well-being of everyone who lives there, not just one individual. And it is in the city's interest, not only for the labor to be divided, but to be divided and given to those most competent and able to fulfill their specific duties. I see.
Moving on now, we are in a position where the basic necessities are taken care of, and the city is focusing on the creation of luxuries. However, Socrates saw that this would, of course, attract attention to other city-states, and there may be threats of invasion from other neighboring cities to come and take the luxuries this republic has. Because of this, Socrates thought this Callipolis would need a defense, and so the guardians would be installed. The guardians were the second class of this republic, who are tasked with defending the city and keeping the peace and safety for all citizens. That means defending the city from external invasions, but also between the citizens themselves. The guardians are effectively the Callipolis's army with professionally trained soldiers. Yes, I understand. The guardians will, however, require the right balance and temperament. They need to be tough, but not ruthless. All warriors will therefore be carefully selected from childhood based on the child's character. However, nature is not enough to develop one into a guardian. A strict education from the city is needed here. Socrates explains that the guardians will undergo physical training for bodily strength, as well as education in music and poetry for the soul. In addition to this, it is very important that all information the guardians learn is monitored and censored, as all stories a child hears goes on to shape their soul. The guardians, therefore, will only ever be exposed to stories that portray the gods in a good light. They can never hear a story showing the gods as evil, murderers, or villainous, as they may believe this is appropriate behavior to adopt. The gods can never be shown to change or morph into something or someone else, as it may give the impression that change is possible, and the guardians can never yearn for another life. The underworld must always be portrayed in a positive way, so the guardians never fear death. All stories must promote values such as bravery, honor, honesty, obedience. These are just some of the conditions and restrictions on the education for guardians. Wow, fascinating.
So now we have two classes: the producers of the city, creating the necessities and the luxuries, and we have the guardians, protecting the city. From the guardians, however, a new class will emerge. The wisest of the guardians will then be selected as the third and final class: the rulers. Whilst monitoring the training of the guardians, those who display the most wisdom after their years of training will be selected to undergo further extensive education to eventually become part of the ruling class. The ruling class are the ones who wield the most power and control in the Callipolis. They are the brains that keep the city moving, the decision-makers. They are now termed as the official guardians of the city, while the second class of soldiers are now termed as the auxiliaries of the city, as they will be carrying out the orders of this new class of guardians. Interesting. Both males and females can become guardians. Socrates believed both sexes were suitable to rule the city, but as mentioned, these guardians will be monitored from a very young age to make sure they are right for this position, with various tests needed to pass, testing their character and loyalty to the city-state. The education of the guardians is also very rigorous. In addition to the auxiliary training of music, poetry, and physical training, they must receive years of training in mathematics, dialectic training, leading people, and of course, philosophy. It is this education that has led to Socrates's rulers being colloquially referred to as the philosopher kings. Once this education is complete and they are of mature age, they will become the rulers of the city. Okay, so they are effectively the kings of the city, wielding the most power. Yes, in terms of directing and maintaining the Callipolis, but not in respect of their own personal lives. What do you mean? Socrates explained that there are a lot of very strict rules for one to become a guardian, and they do, in fact, live very restricted lives. In what way? Firstly, the guardians are not allowed to own any private property or even touch any gold or silver, because the ownership of private property and wealth can corrupt and distract. It is just a pure ban on any guardian being able to own anything. Instead, all guardians must live in a commune with very little privacy, and everything they need will be paid for and maintained by the taxes of the city. I see. In addition to this, guardians are not allowed to enter into monogamous relationships or nuclear families. All guardians will share each other, and if a guardian gives birth, the child will immediately be taken from the mother and looked after by a nurse for some time. This is so no parent will know who their natural sons or daughters are. All children must be shared equally between all guardians. Wow, that's quite a restricted life. Yes, but this ensures no guardian has loyalty to a family or tries to put their family over the city. No guardian will ever be motivated by greed or rule-breaking to better their family. They love their whole commune, and their purpose is to rule the city as part of the commune, putting the Callipolis first. Yes, yes, I see.
So, there we have the structure of the perfect city-state. The first class we have are the producers. These are the masses, the average people who specialize in their professions and live their lives in this perfect city. The second class we have are the auxiliaries, the warriors who defend the city. These auxiliaries are chosen from a young age based on their character, but then they are educated and trained to become the best and most balanced soldiers. They undergo strict training and education, and they are heavily monitored as to what they can learn and what stories they can hear. And finally, we have the guardians, the ruling class, chosen as the wisest of the auxiliaries. These rulers are incorruptible. They have no wealth, no private property, and no families. Their only loyalty is to the city and doing what is best for the city. These rulers go on to be deeply educated in philosophy and shaped to rule. Socrates believed that philosophers naturally make the best rulers, as they are the wisest of people. They are better able to see the truth and to understand the life around them. Society should be ruled by these philosopher kings.
So, um, well done to everyone who's watching this video. Carry on, kings. Socrates argued that this societal structure is built on three core virtues: wisdom, courage, and moderation. Wisdom is the guardian class ruling over the city. Courage is the auxiliary class defending the city. And moderation is the producer class understanding the power balance and following it. Once these virtues are being met in the city, Socrates claims justice is met, and the perfect city-state is created. I see. It is imperative that everyone remains in their class and follows their role for this Callipolis to survive. In order to make sure that no one strays from their class, Socrates recommends telling all citizens the myth of metals. However, this myth will be told to everyone as a fact. The myth goes that all people are born out of the earth with a metal mix in their soul. Each person either has a gold mix in their soul, a silver mix in their soul, or a bronze or iron mix in their soul. Those with a gold mix are born to be part of the ruling class. Those with a silver mix are born to be part of the auxiliary class, and those with bronze or iron are born to be part of the producer class. We are all born into our classes by nature, and going against our metal mix would therefore be unnatural and unjust. We must then stay in the class that nature has decided.
Very fascinating idea of a utopia, and there is definitely a lot here to unpack and think about. Straight away, I actually see similarities between the Callipolis and our modern societies. We do not obviously follow Socrates's structure exactly, but we do have our ruling class of politicians who have very little privacy and are under a lot of scrutiny by our media and population. We have our military, and then we have the general public. Yes, exactly. However, I think it's pretty obvious that there are huge flaws with Socrates or Plato's idea of a perfect city-state. In fact, I see this as more of a dystopia than a utopia. How is that, exactly? Well, firstly, the state does not allow for any social mobility. Someone who is a good carpenter must remain a carpenter for the rest of their lives. It would never allow for a carpenter to study hard and become a ruler. It wouldn't even allow the carpenter to give up the profession and do something else. This is a very horrible position to be in, especially if you do not like the profession you are in. People are given very little freedom in this city-state. Their lives are decided for them, and they cannot ever break out of this lifetime label. They are forced to carry out their function whether they want to or not. This is taking all autonomy and freedom away from the individual and letting the state decide your role. This is very dystopian. Yes, but the perfect city does what is best for the city, not the individual. But how is limiting the freedom of every individual good for the city? Because the city as a whole will function better. But the city as a whole is every individual. By taking away people's autonomy and freedom, I would say you are making them miserable. You are taking away our ability to choose and create our own lives. If every individual in the city is miserable, then how exactly is this totalitarian approach good for the city? From a practical position, the running of the city, its efficiency, its growth, this all depends on people doing what they are best in, each person remaining in their class, and each role being carried out by the person best for the job. Personal freedom and autonomy are not as important as this. So the water will run, the roads will be built, the land will be farmed, and the people will be miserable, and that to you is a utopia? I think you are exaggerating as to how many people will be miserable. Most people will naturally find happiness in the role they are best in and the class that they are meant to be in. No, I disagree. I think knowing you cannot escape any position you are in means you will grow to resent it. Knowing what you are best in means trying different things and finding your own happiness and your own purpose. Hmm.
Moving on. This state seems to participate in mass censorship for the auxiliary class. Yes, but it is necessary in training and conditioning their minds. Again, censoring information of any kind cannot be part of a utopian society. Shielding a large part of the population to news and information sounds totalitarian and dystopian, even if it's necessary. Who decides if it's necessary? The guardians. Well, this brings me to my next point. The guardian class are not elected; they are selected. They are then cut off from the world, live in a commune, and spend their time learning philosophy. Now, don't get me wrong, I love philosophy, but I believe in order to be a good ruler, you need more than theoretical knowledge and philosophy theories. You need to be able to understand. It is not about knowing; it is about understanding. You need to understand what it's like to have a family, to work for a living, to pay taxes, to pay a mortgage, to have food bills and utility bills, to walk the pavements, use the roads, send your kids to school. The guardian class is so cut off from the real world, they live in a commune and read philosophy all day. How on earth can they understand the common man? How can they rule over a city they are so detached from? They are trained in the art of ruling. They learn about their city and how to lead. No, no, no. Reading a book on ruling is not the same as actually ruling. As I said, it is not enough for a ruler to know; a ruler needs to understand. I think these philosopher kings are ignorant of the real world and the worst kind of rulers you could have. Interesting. And my final point, any state that must practice mass deception in order for the population to go along with their structure can never be a legitimate state. The fact that Socrates or Plato needs to invent the metal myth for people to accept the structure just shows how deeply flawed it is. A true perfect society would have people flocking to it. It would stand on its own merit. It would not need to be built on deception and lies. In addition to this, the metal myth is ridiculous in itself, and no sane-minded person would ever believe such nonsense. Good point.
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