Plato and Butler Arguments - Essay Example

Plato and Butler arguments Hoes does Plato understand what we call gender? Plato’s argument concerning gender is different from intellectuals or philosophers of his time. His basis of argument entailed women executing diverse duties or holding certain positions in the society, which was earlier thought by numerous people as best handled by men. Therefore, gender difference to him is irrelevant because all the sexes are capable of tackling diverse roles in the society and ensure excellent results. This is the reason why Plato advocated for the inclusion of women in assuming the roles of guardians in a democratic and ideal society without judging them based on their gender. According to him, the difference between a man and woman is merely biological, whereby both sexes play certain roles during procreation. Consequently, this thought and understanding of gender as irrelevant prompted numerous intellectuals to conclude Plato was a feminist. Primarily, this is because of his argument regarding inclusion of women in assuming similar roles towards nation building without considering humanity’s biological discrepancies, which are beyond human intervention. Women ought to have equal say similar to their male counterparts, as per Platonic argument. This is because they are capable of delivering as necessitated besides talented enough to exceed society’s expectations (Jowett 106). Consequently, this prompted Plato among all other philosophers to emerge as the modern day’s democratic ancestor due to his perspective regarding female gender’s consideration into public affairs. However, in the execution of same duties or roles by both sexes, Plato seems to have a soft understanding concerning jobs’ allocation without giving a clear explanation. Thus, women and men guardians cannot tolerate similar severity of their respective jobs’ environment, whereby the latter’s environment is a bit tougher than the females’. Probably, this is due to the biological discrepancies amid the two sexes where the males’ physique is more muscular than that of female. Plato, despite his strong argument regarding inclusion of women alongside men in the nation’s building, fails to expound much about their gender differences. His arguments lack adequate information regarding why the female gender cannot bear similar circumstances with men. Are there roles in the city that are particular to women and men because they are women or men? Besides Plato’s strong stand regarding gender irrelevance in the allocation of jobs and undertaking of diverse roles in the society, he admits that each sex has a responsibility to undertake. Mainly, these roles basis encompass biological differences where women, according to Plato’s arguments, embrace the role of mothers and wives. These roles are irrefutable, and nature dictates them to assume that course; hence, they are beyond human intervention. However, for other roles, especially those that encompass diverse city’s tasks, Plato emphasize consideration for gender equality. However, his argument did not imply he had in mind the position of woman in the society; instead, his intention was strictly to involve them in the kallipolis affairs. Plato’s perspective entailed women’s capability and not their liberation as it is with numerous contemporary feminists. This is evident from Plato’s deprecating attitude towards women, which comprised his nature. Plato’s advocating of gender equality was a way of ensuring that justice prevails in all sectors where women will be able to contribute constructively. Why does Plato make the argument that he does? Plato’s main concern is to ensure justice and development in kallipolis with the involvement of both sexes. Thus, he deemed the authorities would prove to be fair via accommodating every person to contribute constructively in doing what one thinks he or she is proficient in. This is regardless of sharing or assuming similar roles like that of a guardian where the authorities should not discriminate women but involve them. Additionally, Plato deemed justice and development in kallipolis would only be attainable when each person did the role one is best at or has knowledge about it. Hence, the allocation of duties and society’s roles ought to consider an individual’s physis. According to Plato’s argument, physis is an inherent quality found in people independently, and it is independent of their gender. Hence, “…men and women alike possess the qualities which make a guardian; they differ only in their comparative strength or weakness… And those women who have such qualities are to be selected as the companions and colleagues of men who have similar qualities and whom they resemble in capacity and character” (Jowett 97). Therefore, being proficient in any venture relies on one’s inherent qualities besides training where the authorities ought not to disregard. This is especially when they are involving the weak gender in the role of guardians or other responsibilities, which seem too manly. Thus, “…there is no special faculty of administration in a state which a woman has because she is a woman, or which a man has by virtue of his sex, but the gifts of nature are alike diffused in both; all the pursuits of men are the pursuits of women also...” (Jowett 97). However, Plato maintains his stand regarding the positions of the weaker gender as men’s inferior, which is evident from his statement, “…but in all of them a woman is inferior to a man” (Jowett 97). What is the logic of his claim about family life (for example) given his goal in creating the kallipolis? Plato maintains that both sexes ought to undertake similar responsibilities in a family setting without assuming one is lesser than the other is, though the female gender physically exhibits frailty. He emphasizes his argument with a question when he asks, “…are dogs divided into hes and shes or do they both share equally in hunting and in keeping watch and in other duties of dogs? Or do we entrust to the males the entire and exclusive care of the flock while we leave the females at home, under the idea that the bearing and suckling their puppies is labour enough for them?” (Jowett 94). According to him, there should be no distinctions of responsibilities in a family setting. Therefore, each ought to undertake any role without consideration of gender, similar to what Plato proposes in the public setting. This ensures health interdependence among people, as depicted by dogs. Thus, both the male and female dogs are capable of providing security irrespective of their gender, which is according to Plato’s claims. He asserts, “...if women are to have the same duties as men, they must have the same nurture and education…” hence, no dog is lesser based on its gender when executing a certain responsibility like security (Jowett 94). Compare Plato’s claims about the idea of gender to those in Octavia Butler’s short story “Bloodchild.” Plato and Octavia Butler both maintain the same perspective regarding gender, especially in allotment of duties. However, the two vary in the way they emphasize their arguments regarding gender amid the two genders. The latter through fiction envisions how men similar to women are capable of undertaking the role of childbearing, which is divergent to what numerous individuals by then and presently would perceive to be impossible. Butler, in her account, depicts reversed political gender responsibilities, whereby men in character and submission assume the position of women in society. This is evident in impregnating of Gan by T’Gatoi, whereby the latter assumes the role of man in the preserve society, though he is sometimes harsh towards her lover. This account utilizes physical dominance to reverse gender roles, which is contrary to Plato’s argument. The latter pays no consideration to an individual’s body size and refers to the entire humanity to be sharing similar platform except their varying physis. Gan describes T’Gatoi’s physical movement as, “….but aquatic something swimming through the air as though it were water…” (Butler 9). This proves the prowess of T’Gatoi besides her enormous physique, which in some instances frightens Gan (Butler 8). Clearly, life for Gan on the preserve is far from an ideal city. But Butler is playing with the idea of gender. How is she questioning contemporary gender roles? The inception of authoring her account, Butler seemed to have the thought of the current biotechnological breakthroughs, though her exact predictions are far from fulfillment. This is via genetic engineering, which, at present, medical fields in some states have embraced, regardless of certain religions refuting some of its innovations. Butler intends to unveil whether the current society will embrace reversed gender roles with the aid of new technological knowhow. Mainly, this entails men accepting willingly to intervene and aid their wives with the burden of childbearing or other related roles. However, this is impossible, especially in the present society, where the male gender’s mind deems the role solely belongs to women. Therefore, the male gender would only accept this notion reluctantly, especially if they do not have power over the women. Butler’s mode of questioning entails using technological knowhow whereby in her account, this assumes the symbol of T’Gatoi meant to ease the possibility of impregnating Gan. Additionally, Butler’s vivid depiction of T’Gatoi’s physical prowess questions the male gender whether their consent to childbearing role will be via either coercion or freewill. Thus, Gan’s obedience in the entire account is due to the fear that haunts him: if he fails to comply, T’Gatoi will rape or harm him. This is evident from T’Gatoi’s physique, who sometimes used her tail to whip Gan, though she pretends to be caring through compromise. Work Cited Butler, Octavia, E. Bloodchild and Other Stories. Seven Stories Press, 2005. Print. Jowett, Benjamin. The Republic. Kansas: Digireads.com Publishing, 2008. Print. Read More