The Classical Quarterly (New series)

Table of Contents - 1957 - Volume 7, Issue 3-4  

Research Article

Paradoxes in Plato's Doctrine of the Ideal State1

Raphael Demosa1

a1 Harvard University

The initial paradox is simple: The ideal state, as Plato describes it, is composed of un-ideal individuals. Both the warrior class and the masses are deprived of reason and must be governed by the philosopher-king. How can one legitimately call a community perfect when so many of its members are imperfect ? My point here is logical; the word ‘ideal’ is used in a self-inconsistent manner.

Footnotes

1 In this article I am dealing solely with Plato's political views in the Republic.