THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN IDEAL SOCIETY

-Plato (427-347 BC)

Plato is a classical Greek philosopher who is regarded as the father of all philosophies. He is one of the world’s best known and most widely studied philosophers. He was the student of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle. He was influenced by Heraclitus, Parmenides, and the Pythagoreans. Plato’s most famous work The Republic is generally regarded as providing his own philosophy. He regards objects perceived through the senses as merely copies of ideas. He talks about the domain of idea object and art where ideal only is truth, object is imitation and the art is imitation of idea. He believes that human beings are rational by birth. Hence, for him our knowledge is innate or inborn. In the present essay, he argues that men and women should be treated equal. He considers that nature has provided different degrees of intelligence and capacity to men and women. If women are trained like men they may rise up and do like men.

The thesis of this essay is that men and women are different in nature. There is physical, psychological, emotional and biological differences between men and women. That’s why they should be given different role in ideal state. By using Socratic technique of dialogue, bringing analysis and presenting examples of differences, this thesis idea is justified in the essay.

Q. Discuss Plato’s Rhetoric.

Rhetoric (using language effectively to please or persuade) is the art of persuasion. Plato in the essay, The Role of Women in Ideal Society uses analogy (drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity in some respect), dialogue and comparison & contrast as rhetorical devices. By means of these devices he likes to present his concepts about social roles of man and woman in ideal society.

Dialogue is the major rhetorical device in this essay. It is also called Socratic techniques. Dialogue refers to the conversation and interaction between two characters or among many characters to develop particular idea. The essay is a conversation between Socrates and Glaucon, one of the students of Socrates. Socrates is the leading figure who is intelligent and keeps on giving answers to the queries of Glaucon. He finally convinces Glaucon; who seems to support the equality and similar role of male and female, and justifies that women must be given different roles because they are different by nature. They talk about men and women in relation to social role. The dialogue is meant to present the ideas. Though the essayist intends to convince the reader about the activities of male and female through dialogue, his purpose is only slightly fulfilled. He means to present the physical weakness of female in comparison to male.

Physically men and women are different. To justify this, he bring analogy of hunting dogs. This analogy is appropriate for the reason that males and females need to work on the basis of biological differences. Plato says that a male hunting dog can be perfect in hunting but female hunting dog can never be as effective as male hunting dog. Rather, she is excellent in breeding and raising puppies. This is the case similar to human beings.  This essay is written in the dialogue form.

The technique of comparison and contrast is also effective in this essay. Men and women, and their roles are compared and contrasted throughout the whole essay. This is how Plato uses three different rhetoric styles: analogy, dialogue and comparison to fulfill the role of women in ideal society.

Q. In what sense does Plato think that women are not equal to men?

The Role of Women in Ideal Society is a short essay that talks about the similarities and differences between men and women. In most of the respect, man and woman do have similar nature and character. However, physically women are weaker than men.

Plato, in this essay, is not talking about the discrimination and domination between men and women, but about the differences between them. The differences he has discussed are not constructed by him rather they are innate, natural and biological. Plato intends to establish an ideal perfect state in which everybody feels happy. He thinks that women are not equal of men because women can’t be as effective as men in whatever men can do. Women are different in their abilities. That’s why physical and outside works like gymnastics, warfare, business etc. are unique men’s qualities and tasks which female cannot do.

Women, according to Plato can work at the similar level in different respect. However, some of the activities are naturally given to male and female. Female conceives (have an idea for/thinks) whereas male begets. So far as the fields like music, gymnastic, and war are concerned, women do not participate as men do. Naturally men are stronger than women. So, the occupations that need physical strength should not be given to females.

Plato further explains that female can be pregnant and bear child. It is universal fact that only women can do this but no male. As she experiences pain during pregnancy and bearing child, she automatically feels closer, emotional and serious to her child than male. As men can never experience pregnancy, he is harsh and brutal in comparison to women. Plato seems to be of the opinion that women are not equal of men in relation to physical strength; but they are similar in different respects. In this way Plato justifies the role of women in ideal society.

Q. in Plato’s ideal society, women would flourish based on their nature, rather than their sex. Discuss.

In the essay The Role of Women in Ideal Society Plato tells about the tasks to be done by male and female. According to him the determining factor is not the sex but the nature of the women.

Generally it is considered that males and females are different. Physically women are weaker than men. But would flourish if they got instruction, training and guidance. It is not because of biological difference their capacity will be different. When they get appropriate environment, chance and instruction; they can do every work as men can do. The only difference Plato thinks lies in physicality not in intellectuality. Intellectually there lies no differences between men and women. This is how in Plato’s society the role of women is determined not because of sex but because of the inner potentiality.