In The Republic, Plato, a philosopher and student of Socrates—the classical Greek philosopher known for his contributions to ethics and epistemology—delves deep into the nature of education, freedom, and the human condition. In a recent discussion, Hugh Hewitt engages with Daniel O’Toole, an assistant professor of politics at Hillsdale College, to explore Plato’s insights on why boys and men should be taught to fear slavery more than death. This dialogue sheds light on the importance of freedom and the role of education in preparing individuals to confront life’s ultimate challenges.
Plato’s Directness: A Rare Occurrence
Plato, known for his often-indirect style of writing, makes a rare and blunt statement in his Republic—boys and men must be free and accustomed to fearing slavery more than death. Hugh Hewitt points out this unusual directness, questioning whether this is the core objective of the education that Plato envisions for the future guardians of the state. The idea is simple yet profound: to instill in young boys, who are destined to become guardians, a fear of slavery that surpasses their fear of death. This, according to Hewitt, is an objective and straightforward declaration, uncharacteristic of Plato’s usual approach.
Education for Freedom: More Than Just Survival
Daniel O’Toole expands on this idea, acknowledging that while teaching the fear of slavery over death is one goal, it is not necessarily the final one. He argues that this objective is indeed significant, particularly on the surface level, as it is essential to educate these young men to become tough warriors who will defend their freedom. O’Toole highlights that this discussion in the Republic is perhaps the first and most comprehensive exploration of what we now refer to as liberal education—an education meant for free men.
Political freedom, O’Toole explains, is the foundation of this education. It enables individuals to participate in the governance of their city and to ensure that it remains free. However, Plato’s vision extends beyond mere political freedom. It encompasses a deeper freedom—freedom from unruly passions, prejudices, hopes, and fears, all of which can be irrational or potentially irrational. This, O’Toole suggests, is where Plato’s teachings may only be provisional, hinting at a more profound objective that goes beyond the immediate context of political liberty.
The Role of Beauty in Education
Socrates, in the Republic, goes on to emphasize that the education of these young men should not make them too hot-tempered or too soft. After detailing the elements of a musical education, Socrates surprisingly reveals that the ultimate goal is an education in beauty. According to O’Toole, this education in beauty is not merely about aesthetic appreciation but is fundamentally about understanding the beauty or nobility of the soul.
O’Toole notes a particular flaw in Allan Bloom’s translation of the Republic, where the keyword for beauty or nobility, kalos, is translated as “fine” or “fair.” These terms, he argues, are too tame and quaint to capture the full meaning intended by Plato. When Plato speaks of the “love of the fine,” he is referring to a profound admiration for moral and physical beauty, something truly admirable. This love of beauty, as O’Toole interprets, is central to shaping the souls of the guardians, guiding them toward a true appreciation of excellence, particularly the excellence of the soul.
Embracing Death as an Inevitable Evil
As the discussion progresses, it becomes clear that this education in beauty is intended to cultivate a highly rational and austere sense of beauty in these future guardians. Plato suggests that these men should not regard death as something to be avoided at all costs. Instead, they should see it as an inevitable evil, something to be accepted rather than feared. This radical idea pushes the boundaries of conventional thinking, proposing that these guardians should become so austere, so in control of themselves, that they do not bemoan or wail the loss of a comrade, a brother, or even a son.
O’Toole finds this aspect of Plato’s teaching both striking and shocking. He emphasizes how far Socrates pushes the idea that one should not lament the nature of things to the extent of mourning the loss of a child. In what is perhaps the most radical statement in the dialogue, Plato suggests that men should simply accept death as a natural necessity in life, recognizing that misfortune is an inescapable part of existence. This, O’Toole argues, represents an extreme yet profoundly thought-provoking aspect of Plato’s philosophy.
A Radical Vision of Freedom
Plato’s vision of education is not just about preparing men to fight and defend their city. It is about cultivating a deep-seated love of freedom, a rational acceptance of life’s inevitable hardships, and an appreciation of the beauty and nobility of the soul. By teaching young boys to fear slavery more than death, Plato aims to create guardians who are not only strong and courageous but also wise and virtuous—men who understand that true freedom comes from within and who are prepared to face whatever challenges life may bring.
death.
Plato’s Wisdom Falls Short of the Reality of the One True God
In his many writings, Plato explores numerous topics and references multiple gods, including the Greek gods, as if there were indeed many gods. He delves into the importance of men and boys who will one day steward the nation, emphasizing their need to overcome the fear of death. However, Plato did not yet know of the One True God, as the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, was still in the future, around 427 to 347 years later.
Had Plato encountered the teachings of Jesus, he would have learned that it is appointed once for every man to die, and then comes the judgment. While Plato was correct in asserting that no man escapes death and that one must overcome the fear of death to effectively lead his nation, he defined death as an evil to be feared. He would have discovered that we are called to live forever—eternal life in and with Christ Jesus, in the presence of God, the One True God, our Creator.
As it was then, so it is now: death remains man’s ultimate fear, the root of all other fears.
The Ultimate Fear
Chris Reed, in his message The Four Gates to Freedom and Fullness shared, “Now, the Bible speaks of the ultimate fear. You know, there are many fears and phobias out there. Some people are afraid of heights, others have phobias of spiders or snakes (including me). But Hebrews 2:14-15 says something interesting:
“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He [Christ] Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”
Fear is a liar. The ultimate fear is the fear of death, and it equates living in fear with living in slavery. Let me make a couple of statements that I think will resonate with you:
- The degree to which you fear death is the degree to which you are in slavery, bound to something.
- The degree to which you fear death is the degree of resurrection power that you are currently lacking.
Resurrection power, thank God for it! Aren’t you glad Jesus is alive today? Resurrection power is provided by Jesus’ victory over death. Remember, it says that through His death, He overcame the power of death and the devil, the one who has power over death. Resurrection power gives us victory over the sin nature, sickness, and disease.
The Fearless Apostles
The apostles in the book of Acts changed the world because they were fearless of death or dying. If you get delivered from the fear of death, which is the root of all fears, what else can you fear? If you’re not afraid to die, no other fear can hold you. The lack of resurrection power in a believer will often be seen and heard in their theology, actions, words, thinking patterns, and behavior. The gospel message, of course, is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
By the way, in the mind of God, when we put our faith in Jesus Christ—His person and what He did for us at Calvary—in the mind of God, we were crucified with Christ, buried with Christ, and our whole past was buried with Him. We are resurrected with Him and seated with Him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, far above all principalities, powers, and might.
Faith and Resurrection Power
The Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and our faith in that—faith being the opposite of fear. That’s why faith is connected to resurrection power, and fear is connected to death. Fear is connected to death, as I just read to you: “Lifelong slavery to those who have the fear of death.” That’s why Jesus overcame death through the resurrection—to eliminate the root of all fears.
The more fear you have, the more fear of death you’ll have, and it will make you a slave, a slave to something. I believe God wants to liberate some people today from chains, struggles, and habits you’ve been dealing with for a long time. You need that resurrection power infused in you today, replacing fear with faith.
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Faith in Christ Alone
You see, the more real faith you have in Christ, the more evidence of resurrection power will be found in your words and actions. Fear will always blind you; it will cause you to act impulsively, to make bad decisions. They often say that any person, even a leader, can only make so many good decisions in a day. They refer to something as “decision fatigue,” meaning that you start making poor decisions after a certain point. I believe God wants to give grace, help, and hope to someone today who, through decision fatigue, has gotten themselves into a mess, a bad situation. But if you put your faith back in Christ and make the cross—what Jesus did at the cross—the object of your faith, it gives latitude for the Holy Spirit to go to work on your behalf.
Grace is released, divine help through the Holy Spirit. It is the greatest divine exchange. You put your faith in Christ and what He did at the cross, and His overcoming of death. By keeping your faith there, He releases the Holy Spirit to work on your behalf. In fact, God does not recognize other faiths than those in Christ. People have faith in a lot of things, but if it’s not the right object of their faith, the grace of God and the Holy Spirit can’t work for them. They say, “Oh, but I have faith.” But you have to keep your faith unmoved, because often we get our faith off Christ and what He did on the cross. We put it there when we first got saved, but over time, we start putting our faith in our works, in what we do, in what we wear or don’t wear, or in a man, a church, or a denomination.
Faith Unmoved by Circumstances
Listen, all those things are good and important, but ultimately, the same faith that placed you in Christ—by putting your faith in Jesus and what He did at the cross—in the mind of God, God placed you, your identity, and your past in Christ. At Calvary, you died with Him, were buried with Him, and are resurrected with Him. In the spirit, you’re seated with Him in heavenly places.
We must not give over the things that God is birthing in our lives to the keeping of Herod type political oppression. We’ve got to take care of it; we’ve got to nurture it. The apostle Paul said this: “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you.” You see, I’ve already been born again, but he was writing to people who were already saved. He says, “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you.” That’s the ultimate purpose of the Spirit-filled life—for Christ to be formed in you, for you to act, think, talk, live, do, and be like Jesus.
We’ve been made partakers of His divine nature. At any stage of development in your Christian walk, the devil wants to use the Antichrist spirit and the opposition you’re facing in the world to stop it before it can get to that place of 30 years old, as was the case with Jesus, when the heavens will open, the Spirit of God will descend like a dove, and the whole world will get changed in 3 1/2 years of ministry.