"Each person should devote his life to that which he is best fitted to do"?

Question

I need comments on this famous words of Plato.

Answer 1

Ar first reading, this sounds like a wonderful sentiment. But if you know Plato, then you know he didn't mean it as "self actualization" as some here have implied.

In the Republic, Plato envisioned an authoritarian state administrered by a philosopher-king who would be governed (of course) by reason. He believed that children should be raised by the state, and that some children would show an aptitude for reason, or fighting or agriculture (whatever).

He believed that children should be culled out and then trained in these specific areas. It's actually a very authoritarian idea, and more than a little frightening. Aldous Huxley used this Platonic model for his authoritarian society in "Brave New World."

Plato was not a touchy-feely kind of philosopher. And his Republic was no Utopia.

Answer 2

Each person should be allowed to do what they choose (subject to not harming anyone else). A person might be a brilliant pianist, but hate listening to the piano. Why should society force them to play the piano just because they are good at it. If they enjoy writing poetry more, then society should let them do it. If society wants them to play the piano, then it should offer to pay them and then let the person choose whether they would rather be a wealthy pianist or a poet. Either way, it should be the choice of the individual, not what someone else decides.

Answer 3

It just sounds like self-actualization. Parents should be required to help their children find their own talents as early as possible, so they can devote their life to it.