this post was submitted on 23 May 2024
339 points (99.1% liked)
196
16296 readers
2778 users here now
Be sure to follow the rule before you head out.
Rule: You must post before you leave.
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
To be fair, he wasn’t wrong.
Yes he was. He assumed that the philosopher would know best how to serve the people rather than the people themselves. He failed to acknowledge that all people must have their own personal drives beyond seeking wisdom, with it being impossible for the monarch to be unbiased and driven only by reason. Reason has no drive of its own, never acting outside of servicing more base needs. Most monarchs will favor their own short sighted and selfish desires over those of the city.
Plato's political career failed so bad that he invented a reason for why only he should be allowed to do politics.