He pictures it as a place in which the rule of men is the rule of reason and where the rulers has wisdom and also govern by that wisdom, and where all the individual and political actions are focused on obtaining the good. In a world characterized by political chaos, Plato then saw a city-state ruled by order. And order, for Plato, came only through an understanding of philosophy, which was necessary to instruct men in distinguishing between good and evil. Ethical behavior seems to be a somewhat old fashioned concept. For Plato, such boundaries did not exist, the moral man was moral in all his relationships and actions.
Government thus becomes the practical application of the divine in the interests of men.
Only a state ruled by such a man in such a manner can hope to enjoy the benefits of prosperity and security. It is literally impossible, in his view, to separate ethical and political responsibility. To Plato, the city-state is an indispensable means for attainment of virtue and higher human happiness. To achieve this goal, the empirical state must be structured so that classes of people effectively specialize and operate for particular social ends, Different classes, each with different but equal important responsibilities, are necessary for the management of the achievement of the good in their own lives. In this context, Plato would perhaps be surprised at our current emphasis on diversity, and equality.