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Essay on Philosophers
Plato
Plato, an Athenian philosopher, was the first man to present a theory of education. He was a student of Socrates who influenced much of his work. A just society is a place where everyone is engaged in his or her best ability. Plato is arguing that we should be active (work) according to our best ability. If you do not activate this you will not be making a contribution to the polis, this will result in an unjust polis.
There are no unworthy people for Plato. It is natural and essential to human nature to find and activate their natural ability. This emphasizes why education is so important, because if someone is unemployed or is not acting according to their best ability then society has failed to give them the proper opportunity, education, and training to discover their natural ability. Education for Plato is significant. He believes that everyone has the right to education, however, it is not going to be the same type of education. Why should teachers waste time teaching people something that is not of their best ability? (Brooks, 65-69)
Plato projects that the soul is divided into parts. We all have a rational, wise part; a spirited, honor, loving part; and an appetite based part (desiring money, food, sex, etc.) We will call these reason (gold), spiritedness (silver), and desire (copper). Of these three parts one will dominate which will lead to natural endowments. The vast majority of the people are dominated by desire. Due to the divisions of the soul, society will not be functioning at the same level. This means that there will be classes in the polis. Those who are dominated by reason will be the rulers; spiritedness, guardians; and desire, workers. One might argue today that the wealthy or child of a president has the right to be ruler....................
