To understand human nature and its function within society, it is important to realize the complexity of both. In Plato’s Republic, he defines both the soul and society as having three main parts. He subdivides the human soul into reason, competition, and appetites or desires. For the state, he divides into the levels of stature: the highest being the guardians, then the warriors, and finally the producers. All of these and the way in which they relate to one another support Plato’s Principle of Natural Division of Labor and its attending conditions.
The Principle of Natural Division of Labor states “we aren't all born alike, but each of us differs somewhat in nature from the others, one being suited to one task, another to another” (370a-b). Basically, humans are assigned jobs based on their natural talent. Nature determines everything: your job, your duties, and even your role in society. Therefore, our economic interpretation of natural division results in “more plentiful and better-quality goods are more easily produced if each person does one thing for which he is naturally suited, does it at the right time, and is released from having to do any of the others” (370c-d).
Plato's educational philosophy of natural training for knowledge lead all to excellence. natural talent, do only this job, practice, effort, training, education, experience, do it at the right time (appropriate lessons at appropriate stages), gain knowledge (expertise, teach/pass on). Natural training for knowledge is a necessary condition of the guardians along with all remaining citizens. It proceeds to fall into five steps or conditions: natural talent, do only this job, practice and effort, training and education, and do it at the right time (appropriate lessons at appropriate stages). Throughout these steps, one would begin with only their natural talent and end with an abundance of knowledge and expertise. Then they may go on teaching or passing on what they have gained and...