Plato’s Position in Political Philosophy

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“One can be either Platonic or anti-Platonic, but one cannot be non-Platonic.” Karl Popper

Plato is regarded as the father of political philosophy. There were philosophers before Plato, but he was the first to talk about politics and the State. While philosophers before Plato were occupied with general questions like the purpose of life, the latter was the first to deal with the issue of governance.

Plato for the first time argued that the question of good life cannot be separated from the question of good political life. This means that good life is not possible without a good State.

Plato was the first philosopher who established that the pursuit of philosophy is not simply about personal upliftment, rather it should be brought to the service of mankind. He gave a social purpose to philosophy- philosophers should provide solutions for improving social and political life.

Through his Theory of Ideas, Plato logically established the superiority of ideas. He has also shown the manner in which ideas can be understood by the dialectical method.

The discipline of philosophy in general and political philosophy in particular are indebted to Plato for its scope, methodology, purpose, and above all its superior position among other fields.

Plato remains the reference point for all political thinkers whether it was Aristotle in Plato’s own time or John Rawls in the 21st century.

It is said that the entire Western political thought is nothing but a footnote to the thoughts of Plato and Aristotle. Almost all ideas and concepts of politics are dealt in the works of Plato or Aristotle. The works of later day political philosophers are built on the ideas and works of these two giant thinkers.