Why The Ideal City Could Never Exist

The Principle of Specialization is one of the central axioms of Plato's Republic. This law states that each person must perform the role for which he/she is naturally best suited for, and that one cannot meddle in other areas that he/she is deemed less suitable for. As abstract as this concept sounds from an American standpoint, many nations have been practicing the Principle of Specialization for years. These countries are communist and socialist countries such as modern day China and the late Soviet Union. Although countries such as these were often considered world-powers during their respective primes, they are also noted for violating humanly rights; the same rights Democracy argues are 'endowed from God.' For instance, a current controversy with China is that they filter what their citizens are allowed to access online. Consequently, the Chinese people are not allowed to use popular websites such as Facebook, but instead have to settle for a social network called Renren. Although this is just one example of an inconvenience, this can turn deadly when governments manufacture all the media, and the people are led to believe in fallacies. And because specialization and communism/socialism go hand in hand, it is hard to argue for one without arguing for the other as well. But, there are many other detractions to specialization. In an ideal society, people should be able to do what they want, not just what they are good at. And indeed just because I may be could at math does not necessarily mean I want to be an accountant. If people are forced to do something, and are not happy, then what is the point of the 'ideal society' in the first place?