I've read excerpts from Plato's Republic which interested me a lot, but I read on the web also by some that he was fascist. Whether you think so or not, I'd like to know why this is said. Thank you.
2007-09-07 13:27:21 · 4 answers · asked by humean9 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
That's kind of silly. Fascism is a product of modern industrial society and mass media, so it would be kind of tough to be a fascist in Plato's day. Orwell said....."the word ‘Fascism’ is almost entirely meaningless. In conversation, of course, it is used even more wildly than in print. I have heard it applied to farmers, shopkeepers, Social Credit, corporal punishment, fox-hunting, bull-fighting, the 1922 Committee, the 1941 Committee, Kipling, Gandhi, Chiang Kai-Shek, homosexuality, Priestley's broadcasts, Youth Hostels, astrology, women, dogs and I do not know what else... almost any English person would accept ‘bully’ as a synonym for ‘Fascist’."
2007-09-07 13:46:52 · answer #1 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Fascism refers to an economic system, not a philosophical or political system. Fascism is a system where a)means of production are controlled by a partnership between a state and a small economic or industrial elite, b) income is distributed all to the aggragate good of the economy, c) capital is accumulated by economic/industrial elite and d) economic decisions are made by state/industrial elite partnerships. Re-read the "Republic" and see if Plato's ideas follow the above formula. If they do, he was a fascist. If they don't, well, he wasn't.
2007-09-07 17:12:44 · answer #2 · answered by imhalf_the_sourgirl_iused_tobe 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some of Plato's ideas coincide with the methods of fascist governments. Read the chapter dealing with his 'perfect society'. The gold rulers and silver rulers and lack of deviation form the plan they set down is very fascist in nature.
Personally I think Plato was an incredibly smart guy who did lots of mind expanding activities that are illegal/immoral in today's society.
2007-09-07 13:55:19 · answer #3 · answered by gentleroger 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Reverse the question. Does (modern) fascism a platoism?
May be. No ideology that arose in modern western world starting since 17th century down till now is absolutely free from ancient Greek thinking or Christian influence or Latin-lingo.
2007-09-11 00:43:36 · answer #4 · answered by Harihara S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋