Justice in the State: Comparisons between Plato’s Republic and the West. Essay 4: Socialism’s Promotion of Communalism and Opposition to Individuals, Marriage, and the Family

 

In Plato’s Republic, the ideal state is a form of socialism.  Various terms could be used to capture the sort of government this work describes as the ideal state exhibiting justice.  While it was to be a monarchy, ruled by a philosopher-king, the role of the guardians in governing and protecting the state also makes it an oligarchy (rule by a few), or a timocracy (rule by those deserving honour), or an aristocracy (rule by an elite with the interests of the whole society at heart).  Socrates does not have a wealthy class or nobility in view for his governing aristocracy, and so the word 'timocracy' is best to describe the nature of governance in the ideal state of the Republic.  Years of intense training and selection of both the monarch and the guardians from the very best creates a ruling class fit for the tasks of governing and defending the state.

Socrates also wants to create a socialist state.  In socialism, people live for the state, as opposed to the state existing for the individuals.  Whatever does not contribute to the state is considered a challenge to the state. Free market capitalism, for instance, supports individual interests, often interpreted as greed, and socialism is considered by its proponents as a more ethical, altruistic economic system.  That history provides few examples of this never seems to phase the socialist.  The socialist state also replaces or tries to replace other authorities in society, including religion, education, and even the family.  In socialism, the state wants absolute control, not shared control.  At least, socialist governments tend toward this level of control.  The reason given for assuming this authoritarian rule over society is that the aristocracy believes that it can best deliver to people what they need but do not understand.  People may want justice, but the socialist government has to create just conditions and show people what justice is.

Returning to the ideal republic described by Socrates in the Republic, socialism undermines individualism in every way.  He advocates communitarianism in cohabitation instead of marital boundaries, dwelling in groups, the elimination of the family, and the elimination of parenthood.  He says,

[While people may still marry [cf. 454e], sexual intercourse is not to be limited to marriage on account of the socialist agenda:] [457c] … all that precedes has for its sequel, in my opinion, the following law.” … “That these women shall all be common to all the men, [457d] and that none shall cohabit with any privately; and that the children shall be common, and that no parent shall know its own offspring nor any child its parent.” … [461d] …  a man will call all male offspring born in the tenth and in the seventh month after he became a bridegroom his sons, and all female, daughters, and they will call him father. …

Socrates follows his own logic to its surprising conclusions.  Yet these conclusions are not unlike those reached today in the reckless social experiments of the West, particularly those being presented in the post-Christian era.  Socialism is far more than an economic system.  As with Socrates, socialist countries oppose individualism, other authorities, and the family.  The family unit is under an amazing attack in the West, with pre- or non-marital unions, no fault divorce, blended families, gender dysphoria, same-sex marriage and adoption, and abortion.  In the next essay, we will see that Socrates does discuss abortion.  The socialist state wants to make people be just by taking their money and property to redistribute it according to the socialist concept of justice.  It wants to play the role of parent--or 'nanny.'  It despises religion since the citizens are to be devoted to the state and not obey any other authority.  Free speech is the enemy of state control.  Socrates' collectivism provides a disturbing vision of social justice that the West today is increasingly affirming.