Book V Women in Society Socrates addresses the women in the city is this section of the book. He makes a note that says guardians were to posses all wives and children on a common ground. He says, "men and women are by nature the same with respect to guarding the city, except to the extent that one is weaker and the other stronger." So, by saying this, Socrates provides us with absolutely no reason not to train women for ruling purposes. Glaucon, as usual is not keen on Socrates and tells him to explain the benefits of these ideas. As always, Socrates agrees by discussing his plans of breeding guardians in the city.
Socrates tells of how the best women are to be chosen as guardians just like the best men. He then goes on to tell some laws that would guarantee this city to have the best guardians.
English: The School of Athens (detail). Fresco, St...
Portrait of Socrates. Marble, Roman artwork (1st c...
The "obscene" medieval depiction of Socrates and P...People can only have sex with their own group, babies will be taken by the rulers of the city and left to die, sex was to had during "prime" years of life, you could have sex with some who is older or younger than you, and you refer to everyone as "brother" and "sister" and elders as "mother" and "father." Plato displays an utilitarian political philosophy in this section of the book. He mentions the laws of that are needed to have the best guardians. The loss of children and the loss of sexual freedom are thought to be a good thing in essence because it keeps the guardians in a pure nature. I don't these laws set forth by Socrates because if you follow them, you get nothing in return. I believe Plato should reconsider some of these laws and amend them.
Family Life vs. Civic Life Family life...