Plato’s Theory of Education

Plato saw education as the only real way to the permanent stability of the state. If people's behavior is good, laws are not necessary; if not properly, the laws are useless. With this belief, Plato began to emphasize the importance of education in his ideal state. He clearly saw that education was more than just getting the basics and ideas of childhood and adolescence, and he was the first to propose a detailed system of educational training for adults.

In his Book VII of the Republic Plato laid out the object of education, to turn the eye to the light already possessed by the soul.

To him, the whole function of education is not to put knowledge into the soul but to bring out the best things hidden in the soul, and not to do so by directing it to the right things. This will be done by bringing the soul into the environment which, at each stage of its growth, is most suited to its development.

• No Direct Teaching- In the Platonic system of education, the main problem of education is simply to bring the soul into a particular environment. Therefore, nothing is said about direct instruction. He does not talk about steps through a matter of knowledge that is reflected in the mind. Because the mind is active, things are not shown here, instead, it directs itself to things. It moves towards every object of its environment because there is an attraction here to every object. In Barker’s words, “A teacher’s real business, is to bring out what is best for his student: more precisely, it causes itself in response to the right things, and to put it in front of his students. learning true art teacher lies.

• Reminiscene- In his theory of Education there is something in the theory of "reminiscence" that Plato promoted in his dialogue, the Meno. According to this theory our soul has seen in the former life all the things learned in this world, and our study is only a recollection of that life. The object gives only a clue, the soul itself responds to its suggestion.

• Instruments of Education- Plates found in literature are the main instruments of education. Every Athenian gentleman was brought into a system of study of the standard literature of his country. Besides, there may be an elementary knowledge of some arts, and the beginnings in the sciences of numbers and numbers. The second instrument of education is gymnastics. In early life the main instruments for the release of what is best in the soul are first, literature, beginning with stories for children and continuing with poetry: second, music in our sense of the word, playing and singing; and third, the plastic arts in general. It is all under the head of art.

Long-term Education

Plato held in the Republic that education is a matter of life-time. As a living and thriving entity, it is affected by various agencies and the media at various stages of its growth.

• Childhood- During childhood and adolescence, the soul is more susceptible to fancy and imagination. Therefore, the staff is trained by emotion. During this time, Education will stimulate the love of beauty in all its various forms.

• Adolescence- At this stage, the powers of reasoning begin to develop. The soul is reached by reason. Here education means developing understanding through science and philosophy.

• Youth- In youth, education is both physical and intellectual. It aims to have the truth.

• Education Innovations- Plato's theory of education is truly innovative. He is improving on the current Athenian practice. He pleaded for the same kind of education to be given to both men and women. He believes there is no difference in type between the indigenous abilities of men and women.

Plato's Scheme of Education

Plato's education scheme represents a state-controlled system of compulsory education for both sexes. To him, every member of the state must be prepared for a particular class either ruling, fighting or making the class. The education provided at the outset is equal for all. Thus Plato maintains the principle of equality in education somehow at its inception. However, education in the Republic is exclusively intended for future leaders of the ideal state.