Throughout Platos' Republic, Socrates is identifying how he envisions the perfect city, a "Utopia". He believes that in order to have this type of city the people within must inherintly have four major virtues; wisdom, courage, moderation and justice. If this is accomplished then the city itself will also retain these virtues. "In establishing our city we aren't aiming to make any one group outstandingly happy but to make the whole city so, as far as possible" (Plato 420b). Socrates is saying that the people of the city can be assests to the city as a whole. By follwing thsese virtues the citizens will contribute to the happiness of the lot. According to Socrates, the first virtue wisdom, comes from the idea that the smallest body of the city (Gaurdians) possess a portion of knowledge that the rest of the city do

Class structure has always been aparent in todays world, back to Socrates and before. His idea for structuring a society around what skills they are good at would definatly not be applicable today. Too many people become frustrated with their jobs and want to change what their "craft" is. With a society like Socrates suggests if a person doesn't like their craft and wants to switch, they are endangering the well being of the city, by not continuing to do their appointed skill. Today we are such a versatile society that when there is slack in one market, usually it can be picked up by another trade or an individual steps up to take the empty position. The idea of a structured class sytem also fails in the fact that people today are not content with being pidgeonholed into a career or task. They are constantly striving to be the best or the person on top, because human nature drives them to do so. In Socrates time this is not possible, because at birth your status is already acknowledged according to your "metal". From here their human nature is to follow in accordance with their given skill. In the past a structured class system in motion can be seen in the government of England. A Monarchy with a central leader that is supposedly knowledgeable, an army with people placed in it, and in the country peasants took care of the crafts. Over here in America today, after years of development we have realized that we want better out of life and cannot stay in the same postion for ever. We want to achieve better and gain more for what we do.

es not have, the ability to have good judgement. The second fundamental virtue of a perfect city is courage. In a perfect city courage is easily defined as the part that does battle on the city's behalf (soldiers). Moderation is seen as the individuals responsibility, and they are to have self -control in everthing that they do, so as not to indulge in pleasure or wrong-doing. The final essential virtue, justice is the most important it seems to Socrates. He feels that "there is justice of a single man and also the justice of a whole city....and a city is larger than a single man....there is more justice in the larger thing" (Plato 62). The sinlge citizen is therefore partially responsible for the just ways of the city itself, and by living in moderation, the leaders through their wisdom, are able to create just laws to govern by. These virtues are intended to bring happiness to the soul which is the ultimate goal of the human condition. If everyone contributes to the city, the virtues are very attainable.

Some of the ideas of Plato/Socrates are valid as well as some are not perhaps the best ideas for a modern city. The idea that a city be based on a set of virtues would not directly function in todays society, but can be seen if looked at closely. In todays world the United States can be related to the city state of Athens. The craftsman and farmers of then are represented today by individual states. They are all here for the benefit of the country, and thus act a

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Approximate Word count = 2038
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)