Question

Why are there the specific 3 social classes there are in the kallipolis? How does Plato argue that the human soul has parts isomorphic to these? How does this yield a virtue ethics?

Answer 1

Greek philosopher Plato proposed a utopian city-state ruled by a particular class of citizens called the city “Kallipolis” and wher the rulers are the philosopher kings .Kallipolis would have the hard social structure organised by three social classes where the first is Bronze class.It is composed of farmers and industrail workers.Second class is Silver class that is composed of military and other government officials.THe third class is Gold class that includes the rulers or the philosopher kings.The reason to make these specific social classes is to give the citizens a feedom to choose their class to  fulfil their requirements that is set for his or her desired class. It is worthful in structuiring the society under three social classes as it deliberately training the citizens to work under the categories of predetermined social duties and obligations.Plato desired to promote specialistion.It is like the divisions of professions according to the natures.   

Plato agrued that the human soul is consist of three parts i.e rational, appetitive, and the spirited. These parts match up with the three social classes in the community of kallipolis.According to plato the appetite part of the soul is that which is accountable to the desires of our soul.To stay alive we do efforts to fulfill our desires .Our insights of hunger ,thirst etc force us to earn for better feed ,that is what this soul accounted under the fulfilment of desires of essential needs.This soul comprises to the BRONZE CLASS.Second soul is rational soul which includes the thinking element in every human being.In this human being exercises their mind to find the factual,untrue or true or obvious and sensible things to take a decision.This soul comprises of GOLD CLASS.The third soul is  the spirited soul that produces love, victory and honor.This soul is the implementer of the rational soul.In this the rules must be believable to practice.This soul comprises of SILVER CLASS .First of all the meaning of virtue is a behaviour showing high moral standards.In Plato's Republic, the four cardinal virtues are wisdom, temperance, courage and justice.These reflects to the particular nature of the soul.If the citizen of kallipolis is of bronze class ,he or she should follow the ethics of modernisation as producers If the citizens belong to the gold class then they should follow ethics of wisdom .They must be loyal,true or factual to their work.They use their intellectual mind to find the sensible things .The next is the virtue of courage that is followed by silver class that are in military,police force, and enforces the rulers of the rulers.

Furthermore, the structure also highlights the fact that members of the gold class or the philosopher kings are superior to members of the silver and bronze classes in terms of leadership virtue.