PLATO'S IDEAL STATE TOWARDS A UTOPIAN SOCIETY

Abstract

This article aims to study Plato's philosophy of the “Ideal State,” which serves as a foundational concept for an ideal society emphasizing justice and balance within its social structure. This idea is presented in Plato's The Republic, where society is divided into three classes: rulers, guardians, and producers. Each class is assigned duties based on their abilities and natural inclinations to create harmony and justice within society. The article also analyzes the concept of the Ideal State in the context of a contemporary society characterized by diversity and rapid change. It proposes adaptations of the concept to address modern challenges, such as fostering individual potential, utilizing experts in governance in the form of Technocracy, achieving balance between justice and equality, employing technology to enhance justice-such as AI in judicial systems-and promoting citizenship through educational systems. The study finds that the concept of the Ideal State remains valuable as a philosophical framework that can be adapted to foster sustainable development in various dimensions. Justice at both individual and societal levels can lead to balanced development in economic, political, and social spheres. This highlights that ideas from the past can effectively serve as a guide to addressing contemporary challenges.