Plato on Economic Foundations of an 'Ideal State'

摘要

In-depth analysis of the evolutionary aspects of economic views helps us easily to solve the theoretical and practical problems of modern economics. The development of economic relations dates back to the epoch when the economic science was not yet formulated. Today it is impossible to draw parallels and completely to understand the theoretical and practical issues of the modern economy without taking into consideration many valuable economic viewpoints pronounced in the ancient epoch. In this respect, the economic considerations of antiquity, namely the viewpoints of the prominent Greek public figure Plato (about 427-347 BC) are most valuable. Plato played a significant role in formation of certain elements of economic science. In the present paper the problems of specialization and division of labor in an "Ideal State" and their significance for the growth of labor productivity, the role of the State in socio-economic processes etc. are considered. Although Plato's economic viewpoints are characterized by some contradictions, most of them are valuable. Plato's ideas on the State participation in regulation of the socio-economic processes, communal property, equality and harmony, labor division, communal life, common food etc. are Plato's "Principles of Communism". Plato's conception of the importance of labor division and specialization, foreign trade, marketplaces, public and private property, supply and demand, levels of poverty and wealth, money circulation, the role of the State in socio-economic processes, etc. are still relevant today.