Why did Plato limit private property for rulers and guardians in the Republic?
In his work the Republic, Plato proposed that the ruling elite and the guardian class should possess no individual property or families to ensure they remain focused entirely on the good of the state.12
Plato believed that human passions and desires are the primary causes of societal disturbances. By requiring these classes to lead an extremely austere life and receive only the basic necessities from the working population, he aimed to prevent the corruption and conflict that arise from personal ambition and the pursuit of wealth. This structure was intended to ensure that the rulers, who are philosophers, govern exclusively by reason, while the warriors remain entirely obedient to them. In this ideal state, only the working class is permitted to own private property, allowing the ruling classes to remain unburdened by material interests and dedicated to their roles in maintaining political justice.123