Why the Philospher Should Rule (Plato)
1) (From the Republic Book VII) WHY SHOULD THE PHILOSOPHER RULE? EXPLAIN WHY HE IS BEST SUITED TO RULE AND EXPLAIN 2) WHY IT IS A DILEMMA FOR HE TO CHOOSE TO RULE. WHY DOES HE HAVE TO BE COMPELLED AND WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THE COMPULSION? 3) BE SURE TO COMMENT ON HOW THIS QUESTION IS RELATED TO THE ANSWER PLATO ATTEMPTS TO CONSTRUCT TO GLAUCON'S CHALLENGE?
Part 1
In Plato’s Republic, Plato sets out to prove that it is always better to be just than unjust. Doing so requires him to look into the soul of human beings. Souls by nature are difficult to examine so he suggests that he use the analogy of a city-state. Using this as an analogy suggests that finding the “ideal” functionality of the state he will also have found the ideal functionality of the soul. Plato’s entire construction of his “ideal” city-state is done with intention of mirroring the soul. The city, just as was with the soul, is comprised of three parts or classes. Those classes being the Guardians, the Auxiliaries, and the Producers. The Guardians represent the reason portion of the soul, The Axillaries represent spirit portion and the Producers represent the pleasure portion of the soul. According to Plato’s earlier definition of justice, which suggested justice be each man doing his own, Plato must assign each a roles for a functioning society. Plato proposed that the Auxillaries would be the soldiers and defend the city, the Producers would be commoners or the entire workforce, and the Guardians would be the Philosophers and they would rule the city.
Plato’s claim that philosophers should rule stems from the assertion that only the philosophers would know what is best for the city-state or the society that they rule over because of their superior knowledge. By nature a philosopher is someone devotes himself to truth and knowledge. Plato believes that because they have knowledge that other do not have and only they are fully capable of making crucial decisions about what is best for
Part 1
In Plato’s Republic, Plato sets out to prove that it is always better to be just than unjust. Doing so requires him to look into the soul of human beings. Souls by nature are difficult to examine so he suggests that he use the analogy of a city-state. Using this as an analogy suggests that finding the “ideal” functionality of the state he will also have found the ideal functionality of the soul. Plato’s entire construction of his “ideal” city-state is done with intention of mirroring the soul. The city, just as was with the soul, is comprised of three parts or classes. Those classes being the Guardians, the Auxiliaries, and the Producers. The Guardians represent the reason portion of the soul, The Axillaries represent spirit portion and the Producers represent the pleasure portion of the soul. According to Plato’s earlier definition of justice, which suggested justice be each man doing his own, Plato must assign each a roles for a functioning society. Plato proposed that the Auxillaries would be the soldiers and defend the city, the Producers would be commoners or the entire workforce, and the Guardians would be the Philosophers and they would rule the city.
Plato’s claim that philosophers should rule stems from the assertion that only the philosophers would know what is best for the city-state or the society that they rule over because of their superior knowledge. By nature a philosopher is someone devotes himself to truth and knowledge. Plato believes that because they have knowledge that other do not have and only they are fully capable of making crucial decisions about what is best for