Platos Ideas About Philosopher Kings Depicted in Republic...

In Platos most famous work Republic he puts forward the view that only the study of philosophy would allow man to see what was good and just. Therefore to cure the ills of society it would be necessary to either make kings philosophers or make philosophers kings. I intend to show how Plato justifies this view and then attempt to point out some possible problems with this justification and to forward my own view that the people should ultimately be king. Platos starting point was his recognition that justice was one of four cardinal virtues, along with wisdom, courage and moderation, that when working harmoniously together in a high level of order - he felt equalled the elusive good life. Plato thought that the best way to†¦show more content†¦The producers were to be the farmers and artisans who were responsible for the supply of food, clothing and other such essential but basic needs. They would be highly specialised and allowed money and private property as their main incentive. In the individual soul the producers equated to desire as they were not governed by true reason. In the same way that ungoverned desire e.g. I must eat this cake even though it is not mine, created conflict in an individual that must be controlled, the producers were susceptible to the temptation to take land with better soil or more area for example. Therefore a second class was necessary - to protect from both internal and external threats and keep both the city and the soul in order. The perfect city maintained order by using guardians, the guardians were the warrior class that protected the city. These warrior characteristics made them a potential internal threat, so Plato deci ded to neutralise volatile factors such as greed or envy by denying the guardians access to money or private property. The guardians equate to the spirited or emotional side of the soul, which was usually tamed by reason, but might spontaneously follow desire. The third class in the perfect city is by far the most important and complex. Rulers were chosen from the guardian class on the basis of aptitude (but with some degree of assumption of hereditary traits). Plato felt that asShow MoreRelatedThe Philosopher King2423 Words   |  10 Pageswhich one we’ll need? (Plato 203). The image of the philosopher king was thoroughly described in Plato’s Republic, but the perfect ruler or philosopher king has transformed throughout history and are influenced by historical events. First, the description of a perfect ruler in an ideal society in Plato’s Republic will be the first comparison and the basis of a philosopher king. Second, Marcus Aurelius, who was described as the first philosopher king wrote Meditations and it expresses his own thoughtsRead MoreTheories of State: Plato and Kautilya2779 Words   |  12 PagesCONTENTS Introduction Plato’s Theory of an Ideal State Kautilya’s Saptanga Theory of State Plato vs. Kautilya- A Comparison Conclusion Read MoreThe Writings Of Plato, Karl Marx And Frederick Engles, And Rene Descartes2290 Words   |  10 Pagesquestion of how to produce happiness. Each philosopher believed that through the actualization of each of their utopian societies, a civilization can achieve happiness as well as perfection of mankind. The theories presented by Plato, Marx and Engles, and Descartes are idealistic and unfortunately impossible to completely represent. However, each philosopher conveys several unique ideas that can be practically implemented to improve society. The four philosophers each have a different outlook on how toRead MoreComparison Between Aristotle and Plato on Mimesis4881 Words   |  20 Pages noun designating both a person who imitates and a specific genre of performance based on the limitation of stereotypical character traits. Very little is known about â€Å"mimesis† until the ancient Greek Philosopher Plato provided the first and unquestionably the most influential account of mimesis. In his wide-ranging work of the Republic, Plato does not simply comment upon an existing notion in this notion of mimesis in this dialogue but radically redefines art as essentially mimetic, is a representationRead MoreFate and Destiny7886 Words   |  32 Pagesmade by a variety of philosophers, psychologists and scientists. The paper also discusses some of our contemporary understandings of destiny and concludes that an individual’s stance toward fate and destiny significantly affects one’s sense of life-authorship and vitality. It is common to hear the outcome of events being described as being the result of fate, destiny or sometimes a result of both. But fate and destiny are not just concepts with an entertainment value, these ideas point to serious issues