Maria Augusta da Silva

This research project aims to analyze the gender approach in Plato’s Republic, where the philosopher suggests the possibility of women serving as guardians of the city on equal terms with men. This proposal breaks with the aristocratic values of Classical Greece, in which areté — virtue — was traditionally attributed only to male heroes. Plato redefines this concept as a quality of the soul, accessible to all individuals regardless of gender, provided they undergo the appropriate educational process, thus distancing himself from the aristocratic heritage of Athenian customs. In doing so, Plato inaugurates an innovative philosophical perspective that challenges the paradigms of his time and anticipates contemporary debates on equity, citizenship, and political representation as pillars for building an ideal and just society. The research seeks to understand how this Platonic proposal can be interpreted in light of modern studies in gender, education, and political philosophy.