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1. POLITICAL SCIENCE-II
(POLITICAL THOUGHT)
SUBJECT CODE: BLLB-202

2. AN INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THOUGHT
 The study of any social science is impossible without an understanding of
the historical evolution of the subject.
 Political thoughts are influenced by political events and historical
circumstances.
 Political thought evaluating the social and economic circumstances in
which the political institutions arose and maintained themselves. The
political institutions and systems of political behavior which we observe
today are the result of evolution of centuries.
 The best political philosophers have always been well aware of the
existing realities; they have given intense and systematic study to the
needs and capabilities of man and society.

3. WHAT IS POLITICAL THOUGHT?
 Philosophers, sages and intellectuals since ancient times have been
reflecting on the problems of the universe including those of human
life and society.
 The observations of distinguished thinkers and philosophers regarding
the political aspect of our social life largely constitute political thought.
 It comprehends most of the characteristics of social thought, namely
their views on human nature, human predicament, human ingenuity
and the possible way to human emancipation and human progress.

4. PLATO (427-347 B.C.)
 Plato has been generally regarded as the founder of philosophical
idealism by virtue of his conviction that there is a universal idea in the
world of eternal reality beyond the world of the senses.
 Plato was born in May 427BC in Athens in distinguished aristocratic
family. Plato’s real name was Aristocles which meant the ‘best and
renowned.’
 He was given the nickname Plato because of his strong body with broad
shoulders. He interested to be a great soldier and excellent sports man.
But instead of following these, he was fascinated by the philosophy of
his mentor Socrates.
 Almost all we know about Socrates is from Plato’s writings.

5. SOCRATES
 Plato was the most brilliant disciple of Socrates.
 Plato paid a rich tribute to Socrates in these words “I thank God that I
was born in Greek and not barbarian above all I was born in the age of
Socrates.”
 Socrates always acted as per his conscience, and maintained his
independence that often lead to threat of his life by Thirty Tyrants.
 When democratic party came to power Socrates became a philosopher
and educator, and the rulers suspected that he was undermining their
authority by motivating the youth to question all sorts of authority.
 Consequently they awarded him death sentence on the ground that he
did not recognize Gods that the city recognized and to introduce new
divinities and imposed corrupted young man.

6.  This event had a profound impact on the young mind of Plato who then
turned to most vigorous pursuit of philosophy.
 The tragic end of Socrates filled Plato’s mind with a scorn for
democracy.
 He realized that when incompetent people had become rulers merely
through the skills of oratory, they did not hesitate to execute the wisest
man of their land only to save their ill‐earned position.
 He was convinced that in order to save the state from its ills, democracy
should be replaced by the rule of the wisest and the best.
 After Socrates' death in 399 B.C., Plato left Athens and visited Egypt,
Sicily, Italy, and studied with students of Pythagoras, and spent several
years advising the ruling family of Syracuse in Sicily.

7.  Plato returned Athens after 12 years at the age of 40. By this time he
had turned to be a philosopher and he started writing his monumental
work “The Republic” which is regarded to be a masterpiece on
philosophy.
 He also made other works namely ‘The Statesman’ and ‘The Laws.’
 Plato’s main concern was how to make politics in the way of
establishing morality, justice and virtue in society.
 According to Plato a good state is the just state in which wisdom rules.
This is the main theme of his Republic (386 BC).
 After return to Athens, he established an Academy in 387 B.C. which is
probably known as the first university of the ancient western world,
which produced many brilliant philosophers including Aristotle.

8.  Plato considered Education as the fundamental method/means to
achieve individual justice and social justice.
 He began to teach various subjects in his Academy though special
emphasis was given to moral teaching. The teachers of Academy were
directed by Plato to follow their method of teaching which would be
able to change the mind of people.
 Plato thought that for a good and ideal state or society the citizen must
be made good, moral and virtuous.
 Plato’s sole purpose was to establish an ideal state. Plato understand
that the establishment of an ideal state is only possible through a well
educated system.
 Plato died in 347 B.C. The Academy remained over 900 years a model
for institutions of higher learning until Emperor Justinian closed it in
529 A.D.

9. PLATO’S IDEAL STATE
 Plato was influenced of the Pythagorean theory of human nature. Plato’s Ideal State
is an Idea which can exist without being realised in the concrete actual states.
 Plato says that state is a living body and state represents the same features at larger
level, which an individual represents at small level.
 Individuals are the organs of the state. As an organ cannot survive without body,
similarly, an individual is nothing out of the state. State is composed of classes and
these classes are its parts.
 He based his ideal state on the three major classes.
 The ruling class, highly educated in philosophy, is to administer the state.
 A military class, having courage and physical strength, is to defend the state while
professional class is needed to be ruled and to deal with the ordinary or common
daily affairs of the state.
 So, he bases his ideal state on the three major classes, which are the ruling class,
military class and the professional class.

10. MAJOR FEATURES OF PLATO’S IDEAL STATE
RULE OF PHILOSOPHER KING: According to Plato an Ideal State must be
governed by a philosopher king with wisdom. He possessed high qualities of
head and heart and could not be corrupted by concentration of power in his
hands. He has virtue and knowledge and bound by no law. Such a king can
look after the welfare of all.
EQUAL TREATMENT OF MEN AND WOMEN: Philosopher king should make all
efforts for building character of both men and women. Both are useful citizen
and there should not be any discrimination between them.
According to Plato, equal opportunities should be given to both men and
women for their economic, social, intellectual and political uplift. Plato was
the first feminist of his time in this context.
“
Unless…philosophers become kings in the cities…there can be no cessation of evils.. for cities nor, I think,
for the human race.” –Plato, The Republic.
“Until philosophers are kings or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and the power of
philosophy and political greatness and wisdom meet in one, cities will never rest from their evils.”
(Plato)

11.  CENSORSHIP OF ART AND LITERATURE: According to Plato no cheap,
unpopular or immoral literature should come before the people.
Literature should promote high moral character.
DIVISION OF CLASSES: Plato divided society into three categories.
Plato’s Ideal State
CATEGORY NO: SOCIAL CLASS DOMINANT TRAIT BEFITTING VIRTUE
I. RULERS RATIONAL/KNOWLEDGE WISDOM
II. SOLDIERS SPIRITED/EMOTION COURAGE
III. TRADERS/ARTISAN DESIRE/APPETITE TEMPERANCE
RULERS
SOLDIERS
TRADERS/ARTISAN

12. PRINCIPLE OF FUNCTIONAL SPECIALISATION: Plato proposed everyone
should perform functions assigned to him and should try to attain
perfection in that field, further, not try to go beyond that.
Plato was of the view that due to multiple wants, an individual could not
fulfill all his desires by himself alone due to lack of capacity. Thus co‐
operation among individuals should be necessary to satisfy their mutual
desires. Some people are specialized in performing some certain tasks.
STATE CONTROLLED EDUCATION: Plato provided for a state regulated free
and compulsory education system. Philosopher/ruler should control the
education system in an ideal state. Not any private agency.

13. JUSTICE IN IDEAL STATE: Plato argues that ‘justice’ is obviously the
ultimate purpose of the state. Hence, an ideal state must be based
on justice. According to Plato, Justice is a sort of specialization.
The conception of social justice as the fitting by each man of his
appointed sphere is the cardinal conception of the Republic. Justice
is the bond which binds every member of society together. It forms
a harmonious union of individuals.
COMMUNISM OF WIVES AND PROPERTY: Plato was of the view that
guardian class should live under the system of communism of
property and family. The rulers and soldiers do not possess any
property of their own.

14. PLATO’S NOTION OF JUSTICE
 Discovering the principles of justice is the central problem of Plato’s
Republic. Plato borrowed his idea of justice from Pythagoras.
 For Plato, the state was the ideal of which justice was the reality.
 Plato argues that justice is the ultimate purpose of the state. Hence, an
ideal state must be based on justice.
 Justice is a necessary condition of good life. Justice in society can be
established by determining the proper status and functions of various
social classes.
 Similar to Socrates, Plato also consider that “Virtue is Knowledge”
because there could be no virtue without knowledge or knowledge is
inseparable from virtue.

15.  When people are not guided by knowledge, they turn out to be
multitude without order, moving haphazardly to fulfil their conflicting
desires.
 In the absence of guidance by the forces of knowledge, even the
forces of emotion or spirit would create undue oppression.
 They can be converted into assets for the state if they are blessed with
the enlightenment of knowledge.
 Plato said once we understand the standards of fitness of different
persons for different functions, we get the clue to organization of an
ideal state.
 Plato divided individual’s mind into Reason, Spirit and Appetite
similarly divided Society into three classes namely Rulers, Soldiers &
Farmers.

16.  Like the human soul, the justice will be achieved in a state when each
class fulfils their respective functions. Justice is a general virtue, it
means that all parts are fulfilling their special functions.
 The producer is at his best in the economic field, the warrior is at his
best in the battlefield; they are both at their worst in public office.
 Function of governance requires statesmanship which is a science as
well as an art.
 Only a philosopher who has devoted his life to the pursuit of
knowledge with moral character would be fit to become an ideal king;
he will not be tempted by wealth or power but solely motivated by his
duty to govern for the well‐being of the state.

17.  Plato prescribes different duties for different classes of citizens whose
fulfilment would be instrumental in building up of a perfect state that is
thoroughly informed by the spirit of justice.
 Justice results from each element in society doing its appropriate task,
doing it well and doing it only.
 In order to achieve perfect harmony of these different elements, which
exemplifies justice, it is imperatives that reason must rule within man as
well as within state.
 So in a just or ideal state, the control of govt shall remain in the hands of
philosopher kings who represent living avatar of Reason, whereas
material production and military defence shall be entrusted to the
producer and warrior classes respectively.

18. Plato’s Justice is based on 3 principles
1. Functional specialisation
2. Non‐interference
3. Harmony: The task of justice is to harmonise the 3 virtues.
 In his scheme of justice, Plato identifies the virtues befitting each social
class. He defines justice as the virtue befitting the state.

19.  In Plato’s perfect state, each class will develop its befitting virtue, and
still traders and soldiers classes will accept the supremacy of the
philosophers class in order to achieve harmony in the functioning of all
parts of the state, which is a necessary condition of justice.
 Justice is the equity or fairness that grants each social group its due and
ensures that each does one’s own work.
 In Plato’s view, justice is a blessing. It is not only conducive to
happiness, it is the necessary condition of human happiness.
 Justice is a social consciousness that makes a society internally
harmonious and good.
 Thus, Justice is the bond which holds a society together, a harmonious
union of individuals, each of whom has found his lifework in accordance
with his natural fitness and his training.

20. CRITICISM
• Plato’s theory of justice had faced many criticisms
• NON‐DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN PERSONALITY: In fact state is the
custodian of development of personality of the people living in it. But
Plato’s concept of state is different.
• IT IS TOTALITARIAN: All aspects of life (Art, Speech, Thought, etc.) are
controlled by the State. All the political decisions are made by the
rulers alone. Plato’s state pay no regards to the ordinary citizen and
greatest regard to ruling class.
• AGAINST OPEN SOCIETY: According to Karl Popper, Plato was an enemy
of the open society. He asserts that Plato's ideal state would lead to a
closed system.

21. • IGNORING THE PRODUCING CLASS: It is Ignoring Producing Classes, it is
impossible to create an ideal state by ignoring a particular class. Plato
completely ignores the lower class in his ideal state which forms the great
bulk of population. Such negligence may divide the society into two hostile
groups.
• ANTI‐HUMAN STATE: It denies that individual autonomy is important for
human happiness & well‐being.
• Plato’s concept of communism of wives and property is against human
nature as well as against human sentiments and feelings. It also ignores the
essentials of human nature and psychology. It demanding a great devotion
towards state.
• UTOPIAN STATE: Plato’s concept of ideal state with class divisions,
philosopher kings, state controlled education, communism of wives and
property etc., neither possible nor practicable in this present time. It is only
ideal rather than real.

22. • PLATO IS A MORALIST RATHER THAN A POLITICAL IDEALIST: Plato’s
assumption that the state should control the entire lives of its citizens
is false and contrary to human liberty.
• Plato’s concept of justice lacking clear juridical definition.
• His justice concept is not applicable in a large populated modern
nation‐state. Further it is impracticable to divide these numerous
population into 3 stereo‐typed classes and to assign fixed functions.
• Plato’s justice gives absolute ruling power to one class i.e. philosopher
kings. According to Lord Acton ‘Absolute power corrupts absolutely is
a truism which cannot be denied.

23. • Plato’s concept of justice leads to a class‐state in which ruling
becomes the prerogative of a particular class.
• In his concept of justice, individual is reduced to means and the
state becomes an end in itself.
• Despite all these criticism, Plato's contributions in western political
thought is matchless.
• He has given western political thought a basis, a vision and a
direction.