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Plato's ideas about an ideal state in The State and Laws are too hasty to interpret in a modern way-they say that the philosopher came up with a project of utopia and wanted to implement it. Of course, he wanted to introduce some ideas, because he considered them highly reasonable – for this he was ready to risk his life (after all, the temper of tyrants to whom he advised is unpredictable).
Rather, Plato tries to work out the concept of the state, its nature and essence – from which some logical consequences already follow (the main one of which is the very thing that he was told many times – in fact, a caste society).
Plato's idea is simple: where does the state come from? – from the emergence of professional politicians and managers – and why do they arise? – because society, having discovered the distribution of labor (and its reasonableness), follows the path of narrow professionalization. No one can be good at everything, especially if there are too many skills and crafts. From this it follows logically that it is reasonable and just that everyone in the state is engaged in what he is good at, BUT-Plato adds-not to the detriment of the common good.
How perfect is the state that has implemented this principle? – In my opinion, quite yourself. Another thing is that in practice there are many difficulties, so even the image of the city-state from Plato looks caricatured at times.
The question is phrased as if you are asking “how perfect is a social utopia?”. The answer is obvious. Utopia is a priori ideal. So much so that it's sickening. That's why they create it, in general, to embody a non-existent ideal. The very word “utopia” translates as “nonexistent place”. Another thing is how feasible it is and whether it is applicable at all in modern conditions. This is more interesting. As a rule, no utopia can be fully realized in reality. All attempts to thoroughly implement it, paradoxically, lead to the creation of a dystopia. Often with totalitarian control over the individual. Plato had a special predisposition to the latter, given that he divided society in a certain “natural” way into three classes, each of which had to do what it was prescribed to do and not interfere in the affairs of others. That is, you were born a craftsman, and you will be one until the end of your days. And just try to think about your military exploits. Your job is to feed the state, not to fight. How fair and ideal such a natural division of labor is — judge for yourself.
Plato was often weird. The peasant had a long tongue. For example: he said that a human being is a bird without feathers.In response, Diogenes plucked a chicken and said that it was Plato's man.
Fundamentals of Plato's Ideal State:
Plato's state is ideal in the same sense as the state of dystopias. Simply – not the most violent dystopias, dystopias of scarcity. No, his ideal totalitarianism is closer to Huxley's Brave New World than to the real North Koreas.
Its Great Leader-does not starve citizens to death. But he is adept at pointing out what to write, and better yet, what to think. Also reducing a person to a bestial state. But to the state of well-fed cattle in a non-poor zoo with its spacious enclosures.