Plato on Women

Introduction

Plato stands as one of the first Western philosophers to offer a philosophical argument for the equality of men and women. His main argument in favor of equality is presented in Book V of the Republic (451-457), and ends with the statement that everything said about men applies equally to women in the sculpture of the rulers of his ideal city (Republic 540C). He argues in particular that women benefit equally with men as prisoners. Scientists are engaged in extended discussion over the meaning of this argument, including the vigorous discussion of contemporary feminist scholars. Not so much attention, however, was devoted to the philosophical basis upon which Plato makes his case for equality

From the base Plato makes his claim that men and women are equally capable of serving as guardians, as the requirements of guardianship must be done with features located in the heart, not the body. The soul asexual, sexual difference has no relation to the service of Guardian. This thesis is explored from three different perspectives: first, the inside of Plato, especially the Republic, although including the Timaeus, and secondly, due to the wide NOMOS - phusis discourse, including Xenophon, Antiphon, and Euripides , and thirdly, with regard to its continuity in the laws of Plato.

Plato and feminism

Plato, in some degree supported by feminists on women's equality with men. Some views of Plato's Republic to support this claim especially in book 5, where Plato tackles the opinion of Socrates, that women constitute a good potential guardians or philosopher-rulers of the state. His assertion that a person should be judged on his or her soul, not the appearance is the basis for this claim.

View Plato's feminism is further entrenched by the views that he spent 1) Biology, that a woman should not decide on its fate, and (2) that women's intellect and the mind must be brought in state administration. The two served as grounds for believing that a certain degree Plato supports the views of feminists.

Book V

In book 5, Plato discusses the possibility of equality between men and women. He does not want to limit the role of women as just worse than humans. Just because women's bodies are made differently, does not necessarily follow that it would make them different from and inferior to men. In fact, Plato believed that some women can be equal to the best of people, if not higher. In this regard, the best the state should allow women to drive. This chance should not be deterred by women on the basis of sex alone.

This notion of equality between men and women preached Plato should have taken his contemporaries by surprise. What makes it even more surprising is the fact that those who are familiar with Plato know his penchant for undemocratic and antiegalitarian. It simply means that Plato does not believe in equality in social functions. He was clearly of the opinion that one class of people, presumably superior to other classes. inegalitarianism Plato's view further points out that ...