Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Why Plato Proposes Communism (Background)
- Who Are the Guardians?
- Two Types of Communism in Plato’s System
- Communism of Property
- Communism of Family
- The Principle of “Unity of the State”
- Selection and Pairing of Mates
- Child Rearing and State Control
- Rationale Behind Plato’s Communism
- Major Features Summarized
- Criticisms
- Aristotle
- Modern thinkers
- Feminists
- Liberal critics
- Relevance in Modern Political Thought
- Summary
1. Introduction
Plato believed that private property, family ties, and personal wealth create:
- Jealousy
- Selfishness
- Conflict
- Corruption
To create a just, harmonious, and corruption-free state, he proposed a radical idea:
The Guardian class must live a completely communal life — no private property, no private families, no wealth, no marriage, no inheritance.
This applies only to the Guardian class, not to producers.
This system is outlined in Republic (Books III–V).
2. Why Plato Proposes Communism (Background)
Plato believed the main source of political corruption is:
Ownership of Property → Material Desires → Greed → Unjust Rulers
He believed rulers should be:
- Morally pure
- Free from temptation
- Fully devoted to the state
Thus, private property must be abolished for rulers, because power + wealth is dangerous.
3. Who Are the Guardians?
Plato divides society into three classes:
- Rulers / Philosopher-Kings → Wisdom
- Auxiliaries / Soldiers → Courage
- Producers / Farmers, Merchants, Craftsmen → Desires
The first two classes (Rulers + Auxiliaries) together are the Guardians.
Communism applies only to them.
Producers can marry, own property, and live normal social lives.
4. Two Types of Communism in Plato’s System
Plato establishes two forms of communism for Guardians:
(A) Communism of Property
- No private property
- No money
- No personal wealth
- No land ownership
(B) Communism of Family
- No private families
- No nuclear families
- No marriages
- Children are raised by the state
5. Communism of Property
Key Features
i. No Private Wealth
Guardians must not own:
- Gold
- Silver
- Houses
- Land
- Luxury items
- Slaves
- Livestock
ii. Common Housing
Guardians live in shared barracks, like soldiers in a camp.
iii. Common Meals (Syssitia)
Meals are taken together, supervised by the state.
iv. State provides all necessities
Clothes, food, basic supplies — all provided by state funds.
v. No wages
Guardians are not paid salaries.
Their reward is honor, not money.
vi. Strict prohibition
If any Guardian accumulates wealth:
- He corrupts himself
- He corrupts others
- The state collapses
vii. Why?
Wealth → luxury → softness → corruption → injustice → tyranny
Thus, the purity of the ruling class must be preserved.
6. Communism of Family
This is the most radical part.
Plato abolishes:
- Marriage
- The private family
- Parental rights
- Inheritance
Why?
Family creates:
- Nepotism
- Favouritism
- Division of loyalty
- Emotional conflicts
- Private ambitions
A ruler should think:
“All children are mine; all citizens are my family.”
7. The Principle of “Unity of the State”
Plato’s driving idea is:
The State must function like one human body.
- If one part suffers, all suffer
- If one part prospers, all prosper
Private families create different interests → destroys unity.
Thus abolishing family creates:
- Common identity
- Shared interests
- No “mine” and “yours”
- Only “ours”
8. Selection and Pairing of Mates
State controls reproduction.
Plato proposes:
- Annual reproductive festivals
- Mating arranged by lot (actually fixed by rulers)
- Best men + best women paired → eugenics
This is early state-directed breeding (proto-eugenics).
Inferior children:
- Are removed
- Given to lower classes
- Or secretly disposed (Plato implies exposure)
9. Child Rearing and State Control
Children are separated from parents at birth.
- Raised by special state nurseries
- Under supervision of trained nurses
- No child knows his/her parent
- No parent knows his/her child
Why?
Because emotional bonds:
- Create selfishness
- Create inequality
- Reduce loyalty to the state
Thus, children belong to the state, not to individuals.
10. Rationale Behind Plato’s Communism
Plato gives several justifications:
a) To avoid corruption among rulers
Private wealth → bribery, greed.
b) To ensure loyalty to the state
No family → no split loyalty.
c) To promote unity
Common lifestyle eliminates inequality.
d) To produce superior soldiers and rulers
State-controlled breeding → best traits.
e) To ensure equality within Guardians
No rich/poor divide among rulers.
f) To eliminate nepotism
Rulers will choose the best people, not their relatives.
g) To allow devotion to duty
Without family distractions, Guardians are fully focused.
11. Major Features Summarized
- No private property
- No money
- Common meals and housing
- No marriage
- No personal families
- State-controlled reproduction
- State-reared children
- Only producers have property
- Designed to protect moral purity of rulers
12. Criticisms
(A) Aristotle (most famous critic)
Aristotle argues:
i. Abolishing families reduces affection
People care more for what belongs to them.
ii. Common ownership leads to neglect
“What belongs to all belongs to none.”
iii. Abolition of family is unnatural
Biological instincts cannot be removed.
iv. State-controlled reproduction is tyrannical
It destroys human dignity.
v. Excessive unity destroys diversity
State should be a unity of diverse elements.
(B) Modern Thinkers
Karl Popper
Accuses Plato of:
- Totalitarianism
- Social engineering
- Denial of freedom
Bertrand Russell
Says Plato’s proposals are:
- Impractical
- Inhumane
(C) Feminist Critiques
Although Plato supports women’s education, critics say:
- Women are used as breeding instruments
- The system ignores maternal bonds
(D) Liberal Critics
Communism of family denies:
- Liberty
- Privacy
- Choice
- Individualism
13. Relevance in Modern Political Thought
Plato’s communism influenced:
a) Modern socialism and communism indirectly
Common ownership concept resembles socialism.
b) Modern military barracks
Communal living for soldiers.
c) Welfare state
State responsible for children’s education.
d) Hostels, boarding schools
Common upbringing resembles Platonic nurseries.
e) Debate on corruption
Plato reminds us:
Leaders must not become wealthy.
14. Summary
- Plato establishes a unique communism for Guardians.
- Abolition of property and family aims to eliminate corruption and promote unity.
- Guardians live communally to remain morally pure.
- Highly criticized for being unrealistic, authoritarian, and anti-family.
- Still relevant in discussions on political integrity, moral leadership, and the role of state in education and reform.