플라톤의 정치교육론

Plato"s Theory of Political Education

&nbsp;&nbsp;According to Plato, political education is an activity of ensuring the safety and continuity of the state, and harmony of people. His theory of political education consists of two aspects : educating citizens and education for future rulers.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;The ideal polis is premised on an educational system that properly trains citizen&quot;s appetites and drives for honor. In other words, the system trained the two lower parts of the soul, the spirited part and the appetitive desires. Plato&quot;s most important political innovation was his provision that philosophers must rule. Without this provision, he argues that justice in the polis can never be established.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;Political education for Plato was the means by which the philosophical rulers could shape human nature in order to produce the harmonious state. He held that virtue was knowledge and that knowledge could be taught. According to him only those capable of practicing justice will be able to recognize the injustices in the state, and act to eliminate them, refound the state if necessary. If a state does it neglects political education, it can never be improved. In short, Plato considers that politics as a form of aristocratic governance that is based on knowledge and seeks the welfare of the governed.