One of the things that Plato is concerned with in this
book is creating a perfect and stable society. The noble lie (sometimes called the
"magnificent myth") is meant to help people be content with their place in the society.
If they are content, the society will be stable.
The noble
lie would explain to the people why there is hierarchy in the society. It would tell
them that various people have different elements (gold, silver, bronze) in them and that
they are, therefore, naturally meant to be stratified. This would not be true, but if
people believed it, it would be helpful. The people would not wonder why the hierarchy
existed. They would not be angry at their place in that hierarchy. Instead, they would
accept their place in society as a natural and proper
thing.
Looking at it this way, you can see how the noble
lie helps mankind. It helps keep people contented in their place in society. By doing
so, it helps them be happy and it helps to ensure that their society will remain stable
and free from rebellion by disgruntled people.
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