Edu-leaders

Plato's The Republic Plato’s The Republic, a Socratic dialogue on governance and justice, also takes an in-depth look into matters related to pedagogy. It outlines three main types—warrior- guardian, philosopher- king and pedagogical education. Interestingly, many hail The Republic as the strongest insight into Socrates’ (who also happened to be Plato’s teacher and is the former’s mouthpiece in this book) vision of education.

In an ideal state “guardians” keep a city safe for which they require extensive training (read: education) that makes them “fierce with enemies and gentle with familiars”. Such education entails a training in music and gymnastics, with a focus on morality. The book goes on to praise the philosopher-king school of thought with its emphasis on “absolute” knowledge of the morals as a more complete form of learning.

The philosopher-kings’ education aims the attainment of four virtues (courage, moderation , justice and wisdom) and includes the greatest and most beneficial study: that of “the good”. Knowledge of the good is the ultimate virtue; without it the attainment of other virtues is impossible. To fulfill all the requirements of education a philosopher-king would require fifty years of training.