플라톤의 교육목적론을 규명하는 작업은 그리스 고대의 교육이론을 이해하는 데 있어서 필수적인 과정인 동시에 현대 서양의 교육목적론을 이해하는 단서를 찾는 과정이라고 볼 수 있다. 따라서 이 논문에서는 이런 가정 아래 플라톤이 주장한 세 가지 교육목적, 즉 절대적인 지식의 추구와 이상적인 사회의 건설, 그리고 행복한 삶의 추구가 무엇을 의미하는가를 밝혀보았다. 플라톤이 주장한 세 가지 교육목적이 지향하는 것이 무엇인가를 탐구한 결과를 바탕으로 현대 교육목적의 특징과 문제점을 규명하는 작업을 했다. 특히 지식의 추구와 관련지어 교육의 내재적 목적과 외재적 목적 사이의 관계를 규명하고, 이상적인 사회 건설과 관련지어 정치가를 위한 교육의 문제를 논의하고, 행복한 삶의 추구와 관련지어 행복의 의미와 공정한 사회적 장치의 문제를 살펴보았다.

The hypothesis of this study is that the work to define Plato’s theory of educational aims is not only a necessary process to understand the educational theory of ancient Greece. but also an important factor to understand modern western educational aims. Three educational aims of Plato such as the pursuit of absolute knowledge, the construction of ideal society, and the pursuit of happy life will be discussed in this study. From the research of Plato’s educational aims, the characteristics and problems of modern educational aims are found and discussed. At first, the relation between intrinsic aim and extrinsic aim of education is defined from the viewpoint of the pursuit of knowledge. Secondly, the matter of education for the politicians is discussed on the basis of the construction of ideal society. And finally, the modern meaning of happiness and just society is suggested with Plato's theory of the pursuit of happy life.

The hypothesis of this study is that the work to define Plato’s theory of educational aims is not only a necessary process to understand the educational theory of ancient Greece. but also an important factor to understand modern western educational aims. Three educational aims of Plato such as the pursuit of absolute knowledge, the construction of ideal society, and the pursuit of happy life will be discussed in this study. From the research of Plato’s educational aims, the characteristics and problems of modern educational aims are found and discussed. At first, the relation between intrinsic aim and extrinsic aim of education is defined from the viewpoint of the pursuit of knowledge. Secondly, the matter of education for the politicians is discussed on the basis of the construction of ideal society. And finally, the modern meaning of happiness and just society is suggested with Plato's theory of the pursuit of happy life.

The Idea of the Good, the eyes of soul, ideal society, happiness, the educated man