Plato Thought on Education Essay

The object of commandment is to turn the eye which the person already possesses to the light. The whole function of directional activity is non to put knowledge into the soul, but to bring protrude the best things that be latent in the soul, and to do so by directing it to the right objects. The problem of procreation, then, is to bemuse it the right surrounding. (Plato) In the fifth century B. C. E Plato was born into an dreary Greek family. As a youngster his intention was to be occupied in politics.However in his twenties his thoughts were change after plan of attack into the circle of Socrates, who was to be the lasting knead on his thought. Hence, following the effect of Socrates on accusations of the corruption of youth Plato aban behaved direct involvement in politics and turned to writing and education. Plato was well known for his travels which were exclusively written in the form of dialogues. In the Republic, written about 385 B. C. E and in the Laws, his last work, on which he was still at work at the end of his life Plato addresses childishness in the context of education.Plato motto education as the one great thing, no intent of human life was so important to him, since he rejected present as a criterion for distributing the function of education. He believes that the aim of education was the harmonious ontogeny of human personality with the central purpose was to beget the right type of individualities in the enjoin. Therefore, Plato saw the state primarily as an educational entity. His scheme of education was greatly influenced by Spartan arranging of education. In the Spartan system the family had no control over the education of its members.The state was controlling all aspects of education. In the Republic, Plato devotes much attention to the education of the child as a future citizen. He believes that the child belongs to the state and its education is the responsibility of the state in do-gooder education mustines s be compulsory for all. Furthermore, Plato was non concerned with training children for a disdain but rather with giving them an education in virtue, which is to produce a keen desire to become a perfect citizen who knows how to rule and be ruled in turn.Education was seen as the correct channelling of pains and pleasures, aiming at establishing a nature in which goodness of character has been well and genuinely established so as to breed a familiarity with resolve, since Plato saw reason as mans true nature, therefore it has to be nurtured from childhood by irrational means. In Plato views education was to de virtuousise before tolerate therefore he recommends that the c atomic number 18 of the soul and body of the child begin with prescribed walks for the pregnant woman before birth.For the first two old age of life children should be kept well wrapped up, even though they should be trainn to the country or on visits. Also, they should be carried until they are old enoug h to stand on their own to prevent subjecting their limbs to as well much pressure. This was necessary since the main importance of movement lies in its influence on the earlier development of a well-balanced soul and the subtlety of the body is mainly for the souls sake. Another aspect of education was the formation of character. Plato saw storytelling as the main tool in the development of character.Since stories should provide models for children to imitate, seeing that as ideas taken in at an early age become indelibly fixed. Moreover storytelling must begin at an earlier age than physical training. Physical training may take two or three years, during which nothing else can be done since weariness and sleep are unfavourable to study. Physical training was racy as the work outs were an important test of character. Additionally a childs character will overly be formed while he or she plays Plato attached much importance to childrens games.Even though the sexes are to be sepa rated at the age of six, he believes that children are to be brought together for games. Teachers must provide children with miniature tools of the different trades, so that they can use the childrens games to channel their pleasures and desires toward the activities they will engage in when they are adults. However, children and adults should not imitate base characters when playing or acting, for revere of forming a habit that will become second nature.In addition to storytelling and play, reading, writing, music and arithmetic were an integral part of Platos educational system. jump at the age of ten a child is required to blow over three years on reading, writing, and the poets, and another three learning the lyre. hence they would study elementary mathematics up to the age of seventeen or eighteen. He thought that all of this was to be done with as secondary compulsion as possible in, order to for them to learn enough to participation a war and run a house and administer a state (Republic, bk.7, 535-541).This period of education could not be extend or curtail neither by the child nor father either out of enthusiasm or distaste. Children were expected to work on their letters until they are able to read and write, but any whose natural abilities have not developed sufficiently by the end of the prescribed time to make them into quick or polished performers should not be pressed. Enforced exercise does no harm to the body, but enforced learning will not stay in the mind (Laws, bk. 7, 536). Plato also felt the necessity of moral education.The members of a society should learn that they are the members of one society and that they should get going in the spirit of harmony and co-operation. Plato realizes that the better way of imparting moral instructions, is the sanction of supernatural authority. Plato also believes with conviction that a nation cannot be strong unless it believes in God. Certainly, Platos views on education have importantly influenc ed educational thought to this day and have become the basis of numerous educational policies His system of education includes instructions for the training of body, mind and soul.Plato also believed that an ideal state, embodying the highest and best capabilities of human social life, can really be achieved, if the right people are put in charge. Since the key to the success of the whole is the wisdom of the rulers who make decisions for the entire city, His view of philosophy as an educational activity and of education as the development of reason, the responsibility of which lies straightforwardly with the state, is still a living educational challenge.