The basis of Plato's philosophy is his ideas about ideas. Theory of Plato's ideas represents them by certain divine essences,eternal, independent of space and time. They control the Cosmos, in them the whole life of the Universe is generalized. These are eternal samples, according to which from amorphous matter all variety of real things is formed. They have their own existence, and things in the world exist only because they represent this or that idea, because it exists in them. The idea in relation to the sensible thing is both its cause and the goal to which the being of the sensory world aspires. Ideas are correlated according to the principle of hierarchy, coordination and submission. The highest is the idea of absolute Good, the source of beauty, truth and harmony.
The theory of knowledge of Plato is built by him asthe theory of recollection, with the guiding principle being the rational part of the soul. Plato believed that the soul is immortal. Until the time of human birth, she is in a different place, where she can observe the world of eternal ideas. In the period of life on Earth, the soul can comprehend the idea as a memory of what it has seen before. Knowledge as a memory of what was before birth, in Plato is one of the proofs of the existence of an immortal soul.
The Perfect State of Plato
The theory of a harmonious device he presented in"State" and later developed in the "Laws". Real political art is, ultimately, the process of educating the soul, and therefore Plato puts forward the idea of the correspondence of true philosophy to this policy. He writes that only when a politician is a philosopher, and vice versa, one can build a real state that will be based on the highest values of Good and Truth. To build an ideal state for Plato means to know the person and his place in the universe.
The state of the thinker, as well as the soul, hasstructure consisting of three parts. The entire population in the City-State is divided into three classes: artisans-farmers, warriors and rulers (philosophers-wise men). The harmonious coexistence of these three estates must ensure a just state system.
The estate of artisan farmers is formed frompeople in which the lustrous beginning prevails. The class of soldiers is formed of individuals, in which the willful predominates. The duty of a warrior is to protect the state from both internal and external danger. According to Plato, the state can only be ruled by aristocrats as wise and best citizens. And the rulers should be those who love their City-State more than others, who are ready to fulfill their duty with the greatest diligence. But the most important thing is that they know how to know and contemplate the Good, that is, they should be dominated by the rational principle and they can be called wise men. So, the ideal state of Plato is such a social system, where moderation dominates in the first class, in the second - strength and courage, and in the third - wisdom.
The idea of justice is that everyonea resident must perform what he needs; this applies to citizens in the City-State and to parts of the soul. The ideal state of Plato must have perfect education and upbringing. Plato attaches great importance to the education of soldiers as the most active part of citizens, of whom then rulers can emerge. The training and education of the rulers must combine practical skills with the study of philosophy.
At the end of the work he writes that not soit is important what the ideal state of Plato should be, it is enough that at least one person will live according to the laws of this City-State, that is, according to the laws of Justice, Good and Good. Before arising in external reality, the ideal City-State of the thinker must be born in the soul of every person. On such principles, the ideal state of Plato is built.
