PLATO’S ECONOMIC THOUGHT AND MY CRITIC
Luqman Saeed
(Student- Graduation)
Abstract
In this paper, the writer has identified the economic ideas of great Greek philosopher Plato(428-347
BC) and critically evaluated their relevance to economically just society and the unexploited state of the masses If Subjected to the narrow definition of economic ideas and thought, the work of Plato seems more like that of ethicist and moralist but perusing it more carefully reveals the recognition of very important economic concept by Plato over 2000 years back considering the state of affair he was living in. In an effort to conceive a state of peace, justice and harmony, Plato ideas about the economic aspect of the his ideal state helps us understand the significance of ancient Greek economic ideas and are very helpful in tracing the origin of the economic thought.
Introduction:
Plato(428-348 BC) is undisputedly recognized as of the great western philosopher ever existed. He was a son of an aristocrat and had studied under another great Greek Philosopher Socrates He travelled for many years and finally founded an academy in Athen in 387 BC which became one of the famous haunt for philosophical debates. Most of his work has been written in the form of dialogues in which two characters ask and answer each others question in which Socrates was mostly one of the participant. Plato was not satisfied with the contemporary conditions and wanted the change in existing state of affairs which led to conceive an ideal state (encompassed in Republic) in which according to him there would be no injustice, exploitation and everything would be done for the welfare of the state and masses not for any particular coterie.
As Plato said
“A state arises, as I conceive, out of the needs of mankind, no one is self sufficing but all of us have many wants … Then as we have many wants and many persons needed to supply them, one takes a helper for o e purpose and another for...