Discuss Plato as a Greek philosopher.

He was Socrates’ student. Like his teacher he was opposed to individualism and he wanted to draw up a different and better moral ethical bond. He did this by starting a school called the academy. In this school his ideas were practiced e.g. it had
student/teachers union, which owned in common a chapel, lecture rooms, living rooms and library. He was trying to move away from individualism to working together. In this school both men and women were allowed. The teaching was philosophy, mathematics etc. using the Socrates enquiry method. Students and teacher engaged in discussion. Plato also wrote a book, the republic in which he
suggested an ideal state. It suggested the following;

· In order to destroy self – seeking, family life was to be destroyed
· Rulers were not to own private property
· There should be an aristocratic socialism to ensure individual virtue but also enhance justice in the state.
· To destroy ignorance, rulers were to be those who had received instructions in their respective duties
· The ideal stage should have a 3 tier/level society

Iron men – bronze
To include workers, producers and artisans – people who did manual work –formed majority of population given the characteristic of temperance.

Silver men
Soldier to defend and protect the state and merchants who through trade would bring wealth to the state. People with characteristics of courage.

Golden men – the philosophers
A small group of rulers, self disciplined men having undertaken years of study and training. They were to be entrusted with management of the government for the common good. Had characteristic of wisdom.
According to Plato each group was to receive training related to their role in society. Therefore education depended on who you are and what you did for the society. For the iron men they were to have no education. To be helped to have self control
and how to submit to the others so as to support the others. The silver men were to receive military training to be helpers of the government. The golden men were to receive many years studying dialectics so as to be able to act as
guardians of the state or the rulers. In his ideas of education Plato combined Spartan and Athenian ideas. In Spartan ideas
the emphasis on endurance was taken. From Athenian side he took the idea of encouraging intellectual and political freedom.
Plato’s education was an interaction between the individual and society. The society trained the individual in order to realize the goals of the state. Education therefore catered for both individual and society

CONTENT

Music and literature were offered to develop the child’s imagination and aesthetic value (ability to appreciate beauty and goodness). He advocated for gymnastics. At adolescence science, arithmetic geometry and astronomy were offered. These were to
provoke reflection and iron out any contradictions about things.
Dialectic training (search for truth philosophy) was offered to the guardians of the state Up to 18 years Athenian boys were to be given Spartan military training and those able could continue with higher training and the rest to be given industrial training and those who were very good were given training later to join guardians.
Education was for the ruling class and for both sexes. Scientific and training was for mature age. He advocated for proper organization of learning materials.

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marto answered the question on May 17, 2019 at 06:56