Following are the three eminent books of Plato “The Republic”, “The Laws” and “The statesman” in which Plato discussed about the nature of state and the sovereign. However, “The Republic” is the book in which he discussed his view about the ideal state, despite the fact that, it is actually possible to create such state or not. Plato’s ideal state is based on Socratic doctrine, “ideal is real” by this he meant that, reality should be found in the ideas of permanent things not in the things which are supposed to be changed or decay. According to Plato ideal state should be a model for all the states in the world. It is secondary question whether actual states adopt the model of ideal state or not. His aim was to show that how a state should be or must be.
Plato explain his theory of ideal state with the help of analogy between individual and state. According to Plato state is the magnified individual because both are same in composition and qualities. As Plato believe that human soul consist of appetite, courage and reason, on the other hand, state also consist of the three classes, guardian, soldiers and producers. Plato ideal state is based on his three concepts, (communism) the new social order for guardian class, state regulated education scheme and rule of philosophy.
Communism does not mean to improve the living standard of people in the state, neither it applies to whole community. Communism can only apply to the guardian class, to keep them away from economic and worldly temptation. Which states that, guardian class should not own any property.
In his book “The law” he construct a model of a state, which comprised of 5040 citizens. Those citizens were divided in to the 12 tribes and community which were administered and governed by the state council. He said that such state should be situated away from the sea because at that time the naval power of the state was very weak. Moreover, he emphasized on the agriculture self-sufficient state and defy the idea of commercial state, according to him in commercial state citizen forget their civic duties. According to Plato, there should be middle class people in the state because they will provide stability to the state.
Plato said that, the guardian class should be healthy, honest, selfless, incorruptible, wise and evenhanded. The question here is how people acquire such qualities? Plato answer to the question was education. Further he discussed about the children of the guardians they will be free from all parental handicaps. Loved by all the parents. They will be the state responsibility, state will look after their basic needs and education. In Plato ideal state there will be no law and the head of the state will be king philosopher. He argue that, if people in the state have good and sound character then there is no need of law. Even if their character is unsound or bad they will not care for law and the law will still be unnecessary.
