VIII

In book VIII of Plato’s Republic, Plato describes the four unjust states. Plato predicts that the first unjust state, Timocracy, is a natural consequence from the ideal state, and is then followed by the other three unjust states, Oligarchy, Democracy, and Tyranny. 

Plato’s prediction lies in a basis of logic that man will want what is perceived as good, but then this good will corrupt him. For example, a Timocracy forms because in an ideal state the good man has honor and pride. However, when this becomes man’s fixation, it corrupts him and the state develops into a Timocracy. This logic continues because as the ambitious and proud acquire money, the poor associate money with success and then become obsessed with riches. This obsession with money develops into an Oligarchy, in which there is a class division because of money which leads to criminals. As this distinction in classes intensifies, the poor become greater in number until they successfully revolt and for the next unjust state: Democracy. A Democracy, in which there is supposed to be equality, leads to abuse of freedom and intolerance of authority. A tyranny forms when a member of the state takes advantage of the state and collects all the power of authority for himself. He further worsens the state by eliminating any possible threats- the most intelligent and strong of the state. 

Plato recognizes that man is not perfect. On the contrary, man is constantly being motivated by desire of what he does not have. We can see how Plato’s predications resemble real life throughout history. Not a single country or state in the world has remained peaceful throughout all of recorded history. This is because man is full of desires. For example, some of the history’s most famous tyrants, such as Adolf Hitler, rose from a distressed community that was easy to take advantage of. Furthermore, to remain tyrant, he had to cause turmoil and war in order to distract the people and keep control. Though in real life states do not necessarily always pass from one unlawful state to the next in order, all of Plato’s unlawful states have been exemplified throughout the world various times, including the present.