Pick out two ways in which Plato's ideas might be described as totalitarian. Explain in which way they might be totalitarian. Do you think that they are in fact totalitarian? Argue for your view carefully with reference to both Crito and The Republic

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Pick out two ways in which Plato’s ideas might be described as totalitarian. Explain in which way they might be totalitarian. Do you think that they are in fact totalitarian? Argue for your view carefully with reference to both Crito and The Republic. 

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ESSAY QUESTION: Pick out two ways in which Plato’s ideas might be described as totalitarian. Explain in which way they might be totalitarian. Do you think that they are in fact totalitarian? Argue for your view carefully with reference to both Crito and The Republic. 

Plato’s “Crito” describes Socrates, an Athenian philosopher who chooses to die for an ideal. In the text,  Socrates is condemnded to death and sitting in jail. At this time, Crito, a friend of Socrates comes to rescue him. Socrates has many followers who hope he will agree to escape. When Crito comes to take on this position, Socrates refuses to his arguement and also the plan of escape. In “The Republic”, Socrates, visiting Polemarchus’ house, enters into a conversation on the nature of justice. Several various definitions are presented by the different guests. After finding each of these incapable, Socrates attempts to define justice himself. This requires that he first describe justice on the scale of the “ideal state”. According to “Crito” and “The Republic”, Plato’s ideas can be count as totalitarianism. Both texts are refer to accepting the state rules and esteem to the rulers. To this end, I will prove my argument by giving brief information about totalitarianism and criticize excerpts from “Crito” and “The Republic”

Totalitarianism can be defined as the political power which is concentrated in one bloc, and the ruled have no alternative. ”A totalitarian government seeks to control not only all economic and political matters but rhe attitudes, values, and beliefs of its

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population, erasing the distinction between state and society. Despite the many differences among totalitarian states, they have several characteristics in common,  of which the two most important are: the existence of an ideology that adresses all aspects of life and outlines means to attain the final goal, and a single mass party through which people are mobilized to muster energy and support” (The Columbia Encyclopedia Web Site). Citizens cannot object the rules of the ruler and they must obey them.Otherwise, society exlude the rebels against the state. The party is generally led by a dictator and, typically, participation in politics, ...

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