THE STORY OF PHILOSOPHY2 The Lives and Opinions

PLATO
passed the tests, violates the principle of the division of labor, he receives
the sharp reply that division of labor must be by aptitude and ability,
not by sex; if a woman shows herself capable of political administration*
let her rule; if a man shows himself to be capable only of washing dishes,
let him fulfil the function to which Providence has assigned him.
Community of wives does not mean indiscriminate mating; rather
there is to be strict eugenic supervision of all reproductive relations. The
argument from the breeding of animals here starts its wandering career:
if we get such good results in breeding cattle selectively for qualities
desired, and from breeding only from the best in each generation, why
should we not apply similar principles to the rnatings of mankind? (459) .
For it is not enough to educate the child properly; he must be properly
born, of select and healthy ancestry; "education should begin before
birth" (Laws, 789). Therefore no man or woman shall procreate unless
in perfect health; a health certificate is to be required of every bride and
groom (Laws, 772) . Men may reproduce only when they are above thirty
and under forty-five; women only when they are above twenty and
under forty. Men unmarried by thirty-five are to be taxed into felicity
(Laws, 771). Offspring born of unlicensed matings, or deformed, are to
be exposed and left to die. Before and after the ages specified for procreation,
mating is to be free, on condition that the foetus be aborted.
"We grant this permission with strict orders to the parties to do all in
their power to prevent any embryo from seeing the light; and if any
should force its way to birth, they must understand that the offspring
of such a union cannot be maintained, and they must make their ar-
rangements accordingly" (461). The marriage of relatives is prohibited,
as inducing degeneration (310) . "The best of either sex should be united
with the best as often as possible, and the inferior with the inferior; and
they are to rear the offspring of the one sort but not that of the other;
for this is the only way of keeping the flock in prime condition. . . . Our
braver and better youth, beside their other honors and rewards, are to
be permitted a greater variety of mates; for such fathers ought to have as
many sons as possible" (459-60) .
But our eugenic society must be protected not only from disease and
deterioration within, but from enemies without. It must be ready, if need
be, to wage .successful war. Our model community would of course be
pacific, for it would restrict population within the means of subsistence;
but neighboring states not so managed might well look upon the orderly
prosperity of our Utopia as an invitation to raid and rapine. Hence, while
deploring the necessity, we shall have, in our intermediate class, a
sufficient number of well-trained soldiers, living a hard and simple life
like the guardians, on a stated modicum of goods supplied by their "main-
tainers and fore-fathers," the people. At the same time every precaution
must be taken to avoid the occasions of war. The primary occasion is
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