Plato discusses different forms of government within his book entitled The Republic - Essay Example

Plato discusses different forms of government within his book en d The Republic. The development of Greek government took place between 750 B.C.to 450 B.C., mainly in Athens. The Greeks created constitutional government, whose rules and policies were limited by a constitution. Plato using Socrates in The Republic argues constitutional government development in four main phases: timocracy, oligarchy, democracy, and tyranny. Plato/Socrates use these examples when explaining an Ideal State. Timocracy is defined as a government ruled by people who love honor and are selected according to the degree of honor they hold in society.

A certain amount of property is needed to hold office. There is a strong military undercurrent to Timocracy, with courage becoming more important than wisdom. Knowledge is not a requirement for ruling in this government. Socrates questions how a Timocratic government is negated. In answer, political change is caused by disagreement of the ruling class. Wealth begins to become more important than honor, causing change. “The ruin of Timocracy is the gold that accumulates in the coffers of private persons” (241, 550d).

Timocracy becomes Oligarchy. Oligarchy is “a regime based on property ownership in which only the rich hold office and the poor have no share in the government” (241, 550d). This form of government leads to the accumulation of wealth, taking the place of honor. The people are chosen to rule based on wealth. There is no guarantee they know how to rule. Before 750 B.C. ancient Greece was divided into areas called city-states. Then the nobles overthrew the kings and became rulers. In Oligarchy, there is a rich and poor division.

Through the desire to make more money, the citizens become impoverished. Their desires become more important than what is best for the city as a whole. As a result, the poor class will rise up against the rich, leading to a Democracy. A democracy is referred to as the “adversary of Oligarchy” (236, 544d). It is established by “either force of arms or by the use of terror which compels opposition to withdraw” (248, 557a). Male citizens can vote, hold political office, and serve on a jury.

Democracy is controlled by the people or through representation where majority rules. “Democracy’s greatest good? Liberty” (254, 562b). People are free to make their own choices. By making their own choices, people often become greedy for freedom at any cost. This degenerates into a lack of respect for authority, with children having no fear or respect for their elders. Democracy then becomes Tyranny. Tyranny, also called Despotism, is “worse by far than all the rest, it infects the city with mortal illness” (236, 544d).

This lack of respect, greed for freedom, and no fear become the ideals within this form of government. One person, a tyrant, spearheads and at first treats everyone the same. The tyrant is an aristocrat who has sole power over the state and appeals to the people. The tyrant has complete control over the citizens, who have no say or freedoms. Caution must be exercised as others seek his position and the dominance he has attained over the masses. The community in which he rules is an unhappy community, the people being oppressed.

The constitutional government can be developed in many different ways, with constant changes of power and position. To create the Ideal State, Socrates discusses all forms of development and transitions from one to another. All aspects from desirable to undesirable must be taken into consideration. The change can occur quickly or over a period of years. Works Cited: Plato. The Republic. Trans. Richard W. Sterling and William C. Scott. New York: Norton & Company, 1985.