y the philosophers can see beauty.Plato uses the importance of beauty to clarify this concept of truth. Those who love beauty cannot see it, but there are those who can actually see the beautiful. The difference is the ones who see beauty are able to reach the nature of the beautiful and see it by itself, while the others are merely lovers of beautiful sights. (476b3-8) Only the philosopher knows what the beautiful is. For true beauty to have its proper place in the state, only the philosophers are capable to lead the affairs of human intercourse to be in the form and gracefulness of true beauty. (476c8-d2) Like justice, truth in the state is characterized by beauty in the sense that only what is truth has beauty.To ensure the state is ruled according to excellence, the philosophers would also determine who would be the guardians and how they would be trained. (376c1-d8) This training would have to include musical and poetic stories. The importance of selection and content of music and poetry taught to guardian children is to ensure they will grow into a kinship with that which is graceful and fine. As they grow into adulthood, they will see the purpose of their work with the beauty of reason. (401c-d2). He goes on to relate that a good and beautiful character is matched by a beautiful body, and that which is most beautiful is most loveable. (402d5) This is not a licentious love, but the right kind of love for the sake of what is fine and beautiful. (403b7). The end of this part of their education is the love of the fine and beautiful. (403c6-7) If you love beauty you will seek excellence in your own work, and expect the same of others.It is apparent then that beauty is critical to Plato's state. But what is the result in a state if only visible beauty is valued, and not the nature of beauty itself? Plato concedes that everything that comes into being must decay. (546a1-2) The beginning of decay in a state is the begetting of imperfect ...
