PLATO

Plato’s Theory of Education

 Athenians concentrated on intellectual and cultural activities.

They neglected self discipline and stability in character. Education
was given to Private institutions and the pupils were trained in many
subjects.
 Sparta, There was a rigorous system of state training. At the age of
seven , Spartan youth was taken away from his parents and his
education was entrusted to an official of the state. Unlike the
Athenian system, In Sparta, children of both the sexes were given
education.
Plato’s Theory of Education

 No Direct Teaching
In the Platonic system of Education, the main criteria of
education is simply to bring the soul into a surrounding.
Since the mind is active, objects are not presented to it,
instead it directs itself to the objects. It moves towards every
object of its environment because there is in it an attraction
towards every object.
 Reminiscence:

In this theory there is something called the theory of

Reminiscence. According to this theory our soul has seen in
former life, all things which it learns in this world, and our
learning is a mere remembrance of that life.
 Instruments of Education:

Plato found in literature the main instrument of education. Besides there

might be an elementary knowledge of some art and the rudiments of
sciences of numbers and figures. The second instrument of education was
gymnastics. In early life the main instruments of bringing out what was
best in the soul were first, literature beginning with stories of children
and going on to poetry, secondly music and thirdly plastic arts in general.
Life Long Education
 Plato held in Republic that education was a matter of a lifetime. During Infancy and
Childhood, the soul is more susceptible to fancy and imagination. Hence the character is
trained through emotions.

 During adolescence reasoning power develops. The soul is searched through reason. Here
education means the development of the understanding through science and philosophy.

 In Youth, education would be both physical and intellectual. It would aim at the acquisition
of truth.

 Plato pleads giving same type of education to both boys and girls. He believes there is no
difference in kind between the native capacities of boys and girls.
Plato’s Scheme of Education
 First Stage: Up to the age of six, the lessons of good manners and good taste is given more
importance than imparting of instruction. A child should learn simple religious truths as well
as to like and dislike things. The elementary education begins with the training in music.

 Second Stage: From six to eighteen years, it will be supplemented by music for the soul or
mind and gymnast for the body. The education should be both physical and intellectual.
Music comprises of literature, poetry and fine arts and gymnastics include bodily exercises,
diet and medicine.

 Third Stage: After eighteen years, education was to be general education in music and
gymnastics and in elements of science, mathematics and history. In the three stages of
elementary education i.e. from one to twenty years there was to be given exclusive training
in gymnastics and military science in order to prepare them for the defence of the country in
case of any eventuality or war.
Higher Education for the Guardians

 First Test:
When they arrive at the age of twenty, they face the first elimination test of what they have
learnt all these years. Those who fail, will be assigned the economic work of the community,
businessmen, clerks, factory workers and farmers. Those who pass, will receive ten more years
of education and training in body and mind. This stage is for the guardian class. Its aim is to
make selected few the guardians of the state. The course at this stage, to make recipients wise,
includes study of maths, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy and logic
 Second Test: At thirty, a second selective test will be held. The less gifted will
become the auxiliaries and executive aides and military officers of the state. The
more gifted undergo another five years of training. They now study mathematics
and develop their power of dialectics.

 Practical Education after Thirty-Five: At Thirty-Five guardians occupy positions

of authority in the state. They now get practical experience through dealing with the
day to day problems for fifteen years. Education does not come to an end here.
Instead, so long as the individuals are receptive to knowledge, they may continue
education. Plato opines that merely a perfect type of education may create a perfect
state. The political authority should be blended with broadest knowledge and
culture and the philosopher should be the embodiment of highest political virtue,
spirit, swiftness and strength.
Curriculum of Education
 Plato’s Education aims at realisation of truth. Plato puts emphasis on the mind, body and soul. For this
reason, he divides the curriculum into three parts.

 Bodily Development: To Plato, bodily development is of utmost importance in education. This is

achieved not merely through exercises and gymnast activity but also through regulated and controlled
diet.

 Educational Impression: Even though much importance is attached to bodily development, even greater
importance is attached to mental development. Plato recommended the teaching of mathematics as of
supreme importance. It is the firm belief of Plato that the teaching of mathematics can remove many
mental defects. In addition, teaching of astronomy is of great significance.

 Training in Music: With a view to achieve balance in education, Plato stresses the value of musical
training as a supplement to training in gymnastics. Music helps in the development of the soul. The
child’s curriculum should be purged of all literature and music which tends to generate cowardice,
weakness, selfishness and egoism.
Criticisms
Limited: Plato’s education is confined mainly to a particular class and
knowledge as such becomes the monopoly of the philosopher guardians.

Major portions of life are devoted to education alone. One will not find
time for other pursuits.

Training of philosophical rulers would not create practical rulers. Rather it

would produce academic theorists who are unfit for ruling.

Censorship of artistic and poetic works is highly objectionable. Art and

Literature can never flourish under state censorship.
Criticisms
 The scheme of education is not logical in so far as there is no relation
between one stage and the other.

 There is no provision for imparting the art of administration. The

philosopher king who is to administer the state is not given any training in the
art of administration.

 The long process of education, extending up to thirty-five years of age, will

not only be expensive but would also kill the initiative in men till that age.
The scheme in that case is self-defeating.
Importance
 The value of Platonic education cannot be undermined. This education system
anticipated many modern theories of education.

 This system aimed at spiritual uplift of the individual, similar to modern liberal
education

 The reformative value of this education system cannot be overlooked. He attempted

a reform of the haphazard education that prevailed in Greece in those times.

 Plato deserves credit for emphasizing that education must aim at moral as well as
physical development.