Platos Imperfect Utopia
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In Plato's Republic, Socrates's main goal is to develop a working definition of justice. Socrates disproves, through a process of questioning, the general view of justice held by Thrasymachus which defines justice as "the advantage of the stronger." He introduces the idea of a kallipolis, or ideal city, in order to convince his audience that Thrasymachus is wrong in saying that it is more profitable to be an unjust person than a just person. A lengthy and productive discussion then takes place about how the kallipolis should be constructed. The ideas introduced in Books III and IV of Plato's Republic include the removal of parts of texts as well as modes and rhythms of music that acknowledge certain ideas and ways of thinking harmful to the structure of the kallipolis, the model of the kallipolis and how it relates to the individual, and the final insight into the meaning of justice. Although these ideas are very well stated and supported by Socrates's methods of reasoning, it is neither a plausible nor a positive idea of utopia.
In order to maintain stability, a city must have protection. The protectors of the kallipolis are referred to as guardians. Socrates explains that these protectors, along with the other citizens, must be educated correctly so that everyone acts with moderation. To do this, first of all they must remove parts of their literature that pertain to things that are destructive...