Plato's Theory Of Virtue In Plato, By Therefor Plato

In The Republic Plato argues that some women have the ability to become philosopher-Guardians. This idea during that time wasn’t viewed as a normal idea to spring upon, therefor Plato argues this statement through questionings and contradictions to justify this radical idea. He does so by summing up his ideas and thoughts through his theory of virtue.

Just as female guard dogs fulfill the proper guard functions, same as males, the same should apply to female guardians. Although women and men have natural powers and natural abilities if they are given the same training intellectually and physically, there is nothing to prevent women from fulfilling these roles.

Since women and men are different it could be argued that women are naturally

Later on he says that since men have been given the training of the arts and physical training, the women shall also be provided the same training. He mentions this in a form of ridicule, because it would be highly absurd to see women naked exercising as men do. Although to back up this argument he says that not long ago it was seen as abnormal for men to be naked as well absurd when the exercise gymnastics emerged.

After this discussion of questioning he goes on to contradict what they say about women and men being different by nature “can you deny that a woman is by nature very different from man?” to their reply, no, he then goes “ and isn’t it appropriate to assign different work to each accordance with its nature” which then they agree to, he says “ how is it then, that, you aren’t mistaken and contradicting yourselves when you say that men and women must do the same things, when their natures are so completely separate and distinct?”

Since they’ll wear virtue or excellence instead of clothes. They must share in war and the other guardians’ duties in the city and do nothing else. But the lighter parts must be assigned to them because of the weakness of their sex. And the man who laughs at naked women doing physical training for the sake of what is best is “plucking the unripe fruit” of laughter and doesn’t know, it seems, what he’s laughing at or what he’s doing, for it is and always will be the finest saying that the beneficial is beautiful, while the harmful is ugly.” (457 b, The