Womens Role in Platos Ideal State - Essay Example

Women's Role in Plato's Ideal According to Plato, in his Republic, the well- ordered Ideal has three main of people, the Guardians, the Auxiliaries and the Producers. The role of women is also discussed. Plato concedes that there are natural differences between men and women. Women are generally smaller, shorter and weaker than men, but these differences should not be considered .He says that there is no systematic difference between men and women in their abilities as women also have the capacity to understand realityPlato gives women the same opportunities as men in education The only difference between men and women is that women bear children, and this does not mean that women should get a different kind of education.

"And if male and female sex appear to differ in their fitness for any art or pursuit, but the difference consists only in women bearing and men begetting children, this does not amount to a proof that a woman differs from a man in respect of the sort of education she should receive(Republic. 454d e) Plato is of the opinion that women should also receive the same education as men as they are intellectually equal to them.. .In Plato's Ideal State, women also have a military role. "And let them share in the toils of war and the defense of their country" (Rep. 457 a) Since they are weaker, Plato wants women to be given the lighter tasks.

"Only in the distribution of labors the lighter are to be assigned to the women who are the weaker natures but in other respects their duties are to be the same".(Rep 457b)The abolition of the private family makes the woman have a single communal family .Men and women are brought together at opportune times to have sex to ensure offspring of the highest quality. In Plato's Utopia, the woman takes equal responsibilities of the guardianship of the state and of protecting it, forfeiting her sexual gratification and family love.. Works cited"Plato", Encyclopedia Britannica E/17 Vol 8 Chicago 2005