Plato’s Republic presents a utopia instead of a society that strives to make the world perfect. Plato believes that citizens can live simple, peaceful lives if they are subject to strict regulations. Plato considers freedom to be a danger of gaining excess wealth that causes instability and misdeeds. Thus, the principle of marginalization is fundamental. Plato’s utopia will not only prevent individuals from growing, but also ensure that society does not collapse by preventing injustice from occurring.

Plato tries to suppress individuality through control and censorship of education and influence. Plato insists on a uniform education in order for people to be homogeneous. Instead, we should force poets to deny their evil deeds or that they are god-children. (Plato. 69) The myths of the Greek gods were rewritten so that they are free from all their faults. Plato creates the Greek gods in a way that gives the audience control over what they take from the stories. Plato believes that people cannot choose wisely between right and wrong. He denies that people have the right to think for themselves. This makes it very unlikely that different religions or values will emerge. Everyone will believe the same thing that he constructs.

Plato believed that individuality should not be held and he outlined the restriction of an individual citizen’s identity. Plato introduced the categories of utopians to create a uniform community. (Plato 94)

This system is a guideline that people can follow. At an early age, the type of metal people choose is determined. People simply accept the task and live according to social norms. People are not willing to challenge their positions. They believe the task they have been assigned is the best. It is forbidden for people to pursue their passions; as a result, any attempt to bring about social change is discouraged. This scheme also makes it impossible for people to find their true purpose in life and restricts their individuality. This arrangement forces people to live in the same categories for their entire lives. The place in the utopia’s three divisions defines the person and determines his path. This is the noble lie: A person is given a particular occupation by his natural ability to perform a specific trait. Plato wants “somehow to contrive one those lies that are born in case of necessity… some single noble lie to persuade… even the rulers, but not them, then the rest of the people” (Plato 93). This lies is used to maintain social harmony by convincing people that the best they have been given is their own. This prevents people from trying new things and pursuing their passions. The identity that one is born with is theirs. There are no ways to change or improve this. Plato chose the alternative route to satisfy the desires of all the people, because it is difficult for humans to control their complex minds.

Moderation is the key to freedom in utopias. Plato believes that moderation is key to sustaining utopias. It is not courage or wisdom. Each of these are found in one part of the city, making it wiser and more courageous. Moderation is not a one-way street. Instead, it runs throughout the whole of the scale. The weaker, stronger, and those in between… all sing the same chant together. (Plato 110)

Moderation fosters an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation. The atmosphere of sharing creates a space where people are not motivated by selfish goals.

However, moderation reduces individuality in human aspiration and personality. Moderation shares and distributes what is common among people. Plato emphasizes the importance to be moderate in expression and want. Plato suggests that people should be “obedient the rulers, being themselves rulers in the pleasures sex, drink and eating.” Plato further emphasizes control and discourages instant reactions to want. Plato also criticized freedom, saying that in a democracy, people would call “moderation cowardliness,” and then banish it. (Plato 239) People will be unable to choose between the many choices in society if there is not a strict policy against individual growth. It is better not to offer any choices. Freedom is an invitation to people to wander off into an uncontrollable environment and create problems beyond their control. In this way, people are able to feel satisfied and have little to no maintenance.

Freedom is inherently tied to avarice, which can lead to the destruction of harmony in utopias. Plato makes it clear that private property can be disabled to enforce the marginalization. Plato discourages ownership and stresses unity by emphasizing that happiness for all should be greater than individual happiness. Private property is completely rejected. They’ll have their own land, houses, currency and homes, but they won’t be citizens. (Plato 96)

Plato points out how gluttony, evil and ownership increase. People will view other people’s possessions simply as opportunities to be taken. This will disrupt harmony. Instead of a system that values everyone’s contributions and builds society to benefit all, people will value the wealth they accumulate and their ability to control their occupations more. A society that is owned by private companies means that a person’s loss can be a chance to make a profit for someone else. To prevent selfishness and causing chaos in society, it is imperative to marginalize individuality.

Plato shows the dangers freedom can cause by reducing the notion of individual growth to a mere illusion. Plato shows how greed can lead to people being unable to be controlled by a set of restrictions. It is evident that utopia cannot grow and develop without rigid limits, but it will not succeed without them. Plato’s utopia ideal is not perfect. If one is discouraged or denied of his motives, happiness will not be found. Human greed can lead to the destruction of the human character and eventually to the disintegration of the boundary between humans and robots.