Creation of the Educational Meritocracy: A Comparative Analysis of Plato’s “Republic” and Georgia’s Gifted Education Program Open Access

Abstract

The education of the guardians in Plato’s Republic exemplifies a strong system of education that is focused on the civic, moral, and intellectual training of the elites in society. This thesis highlights Plato’s system of elite education in relation to the gifted education program present in Georgia’s K-12 schools: both of which segregate certain individuals on behalf of their demonstrated potential and/or abilities. While Georgia’s program does not seem to have any clear ideological or philosophical objectives at its foundation, it becomes clear that the strength of Plato’s curriculum comes from its origin in defined goals and thoughtful reasoning. For this reason, I argue that Georgia ought to adapt many of the eligibility and curricular aims that are presented in Plato’s Republic, as Plato’s comprehensive education strives to create the sort of morally and philosophically developed leaders that would be extremely beneficial in a liberal democracy like America. 

Table of Contents

Introduction………………………………………………………………….………………Page 1

Chapter I: Gifted Education in Georgia………………………..……………………………Page 3

Chapter II: Plato’s Eligibility Requirements for the Gifted Class…………………………Page 14

Chapter III: Plato’s Training of the Gifted Class……………………………..……………Page 19

Chapter IV: Analysis of Plato’s Character Training as it relates to Georgia’s Gifted Education Program………Page 30

Bibliography……………………………………………………....………………………..Page 49

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Interdisciplinary Studies in Society and Culture
Degree	B.A.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Philosophy Education, Philosophy of Political Science, General
Keyword	Gifted Education Republic Plato
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Owen, J. Judd, Emory University
Committee Members	Hertzberg, Benjamin, Emory University Wakefield, Peter, Emory University

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