Read the excerpt from Plato’s Republic.
Women are the same in kind as men, and have the same aptitude or want of aptitude for medicine or gymnastic or war. . . . If however their natures are the same, the inference is that their education must also be the same; there is no longer anything unnatural or impossible in a woman learning music and gymnastic. And the education which we give them will be the very best . . . will train up the very best women, and nothing can be more advantageous to the State than this.
–The Republic, Plato
Why did Plato advocate for the education of women, according to this passage?
Women and men have the same abilities, or lack of abilities, in medicine and war.
Women have the aptitude only for medicine, music, and gymnastics.
Men and women both have a natural ability to learn the same kinds of subjects in school.
Women who are educated would help the state because their talents would be advantageous.
