PLato - Question 1. Plato was an enemy of the open society. (Karl Popper). Comment. 250 words (20 marks)

                                    Karl Popper in his book ' The open society and its enemies' talks about 3 philosophers - Plato, Hegel and Karl Marx whom he believes to be the enemies of the open society. Karl Popper argued that Plato's political philosophy as outlined in his work ' The republic' advocated for a hierarchical (tripartite society i.e. rulers, auxiliary and producers) and authoritarian society (abolition of private family, eugenics etc.), he thinks was incompatible with the principle of an open society. 

                                      Popper saw that Plato's vision of an ideal society involved a rigid class system, strict control over citizens life both personal and professional. According to Popper these ideas reflected a tendency towards totalitarianism (a scenario where individual freedom and autonomy are heavily restricted). Plato's ideal state was centered around the idea of common good (everything you are doing you are doing it for the state i.e. subordination of individual interests). Plato viewed democracy as a flawed and unstable form of government that would eventually lead to tyranny, instead Plato was in favor of people i.e. philosophers who will rule the state. Karl Popper argued that over emphasis on collectivity will eventually lead to the suppression of individual liberty and autonomy, for example- 1) the way things turn out in Germany where Nazi party under the rule of Hitler centralized authority, concentration of power led to fascism. 2) Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin. 3) Present day North Korea is in absolute control under Kim's family.

                                      Karl Popper's criticism was not an outright rejection of Plato's ideas as Karl Popper once said, " that engaging with Plato's ideas even critically it is essential for the development of more open and democratic society".