Essay On Philosopher Kings

A philosopher king and sage king both require the rule of an intellectual. Plato stressed the importance of education because ignorance limited efficiency in rule. Confucius believed that the wise were capable of reflecting on their and their ancestors actions creating a peaceful ruling. In most cases, philosopher kings rarely repeat the mistakes from previous generations and focus on changing the world for the better. Philosophers are known to be moral and intellectual, which both Plato and Confucius believe the most important traits of a ruler. Philosopher kings are moral and do not succumb to greed or lust and do not abuse power. An individual that practices values of morality include Abraham Lincoln. He was one of
Jefferson utilized his skill in and knowledge of writing as well as his philosophy to carefully craft the Declaration of Independence. He wrote it to help liberate America from British rule. With this famous document, he composed the phrases “all men are created equal” which emphasized his belief that all individuals have natural rights, which are life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Since he valued education, Jefferson was flexible in thought as well as knew and understood the mistakes of the past. He believed there was a correlation with citizen’s knowledge and a successful government like Confucius and Plato. Therefore, he wanted to require at least an elementary education for all citizens. Additionally, he believed that things read or seen by individuals stayed with them as they grew. Therefore, when people learned at a younger age, they would know right from wrong by relating it with facts from the past. Jefferson actively supported his beliefs by encouraging the University of Virginia to add liberal education. Through ideas similar to that of Plato and Confucius, Jefferson was capable of implementing currently practiced educational