Throughout Plato's The Republic, Plato conveys his belief that in order to live a perfect or ideal life it can only be led under the perfect conditions; that is, in the perfect society, the Ideal State. In The Republic, There are two key concepts that are brought out and that are intertwined together. Politics is one that is considered through the Ideal state, and Private morality is conceived through the Individual. Plato feels a "properly" educated man is the only Individual who can lead and govern the Ideal State justly. Therefore, education is a vital and essential quality that an Individual must attain. Consequently, the meaning, purpose and function of Education are systematically and comprehensively discussed from both an elementary and higher education perspective.
             The education of the "proper" and "just" Individual consists of two aspects, the development of the mind and body. Plato launches on with the education of the mind. He says that the young child is particularly impressionable. The literature and music it first encounters, even the stories it first told, have a major impact on its subsequent development". (Sayers, 36) Plato therefore begins with the education of the mind because this creates a significant and important foundation that makes it uncomplicated for further mental and physical development. Thus, the education is initiated at a young and tender age where the child's mind and character are malleable and easily impressed. Plato begins the education process by reciting stories Gods and heroes to the children. But, a few of the stories were rejected and covered up because they are inappropriate for children. Stories, like the ones Homer and the poets speak about, deal with Gods committing murder and other terrible crimes that are deceptive and malevolent. These stories which speak about the Gods' wrongdoings are false and deceptive because if these Gods ar...