Kyli Stoner

Dr. Jividen
Classical Political Thought
November 25, 2013
Word Count: 2,055

Its a curious thing, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have
never sought it. Albus Dumbledore in the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is talking
about the individuals that are the best fit to rule. In The Republic, this topic is a common theme
throughout the whole book. The main goal of the dialogue is to seek justice. At 331a, Socrates
starts the dialogue by defining justice. The men talk about it, but never really get anywhere. At
the end of Book I, Socrates is incredibly unsatisfied because they havent figured out the
definition of justice. The men broke down the traditional notions of justice and identified the
problem with justice. At 369a, the men are having trouble seeing justice in the soul. Socrates
decides to look at justice in the city. Itll work if the city is like a soul, but if it doesnt work, then
it doesnt really matter, because this comparison is all a thought experiment to talk about justice.
Once they men start talking about the city, the justice argument gets pushed to the backburner.
They start discussing more about the citys details, like who should rule. Once a ruler is found,
the question on education is raised. While searching for the definition of justice, Platos Socrates
uncovers two main themes in The Republic in developing the perfect city in speech: politics and
education.
The Republic provides many different political insights, including a layout of different
regimes, and the type of people who rule those regimes. Book VIII describes those regimes. The
first and best regime is an aristocracy, which is ruled by the good and just. A timocracy is the
next best regime, and that is ruled by the honor lover, the warrior, spirited type, represented by
Polymarchus. Oligarchy is next on Platos Socrates list. That type of regime is ruled by money,
wealth, and desire. Kephalus is is an Oligarch. Democracy is rule by the many, or poor. That
regime is driven by freedom. The worst regime possible is Tyranny. Thrasymachus would
represent the tyranny, because he is a fan of the might makes right idea. His definition of
justice is whatever the advantage of the stronger is.
Around 545 d, the regime slide is described in detail. This is because that the regime will
decay eventually. Aristocracy will never be able to hold up for the sole reason that faction arises,
and if not controlled, it will destroy a regime. At 547b, Platos Socrates describes the first sign
that the aristocracy is crumbling. People start to be too focused on making money. Then
Timocracy steps in between the aristocracy and oligarchy. 548c explains Timocracy as
spiritedness unchecked by moderation. Oligarchy was founded on property, money, and wealth
(550c). The problem with this regime is that beggars start to pop up, which Platos Socrates
describes as the greatest of evils. The oligarchy doesnt sound like a terrible regime, because
most of the time greed encourages moderation. In a democracy, the many forget to educate and
control their kids, so they create spendthrifts (555b). Democracy becomes prominent when the
poor either kill or cast out the oligarchs (557). The city and the soul argument fall apart, and that
is because a democracy can house many different types of souls. There is rule by everyone and
no one. The main soul that is associated with such regime is a Democratic man. He has
unnecessary desires, and because of that, the regime slides into tyranny. At 562a, the love of
freedom within the regime changes. Limits arent placed on freedom, so the ruler aims for
freedom with no restraints. Everyone becomes equal, for example, a student will start to compete
with the teacher, and a son will undermine his father. At 563e, the democracy becomes enslaved,
and it is the greatest and most savage slavery, because it is extreme freedom.
The soul of the Tyrant is examined. In some souls, the strong, unnecessary desires just
cant be moderated. The Tyrant can never be satisfied. At 576, the question arises that if the life
of the Tyrant is more profitable than the just life, whether or not he is happy. Platos Socrates
argues at 579d that the real tyrant is a real slave, and he is unhappy. The argument isnt really
convincing. In Book I and II, the just man isnt concerned about consequences, but this argument
is backed by the consequences the Tyrant receives. The reason why the argument about the
unhappy Tyrant is made is because it is simply prudent to say so. If the public sees that the life of
the tyrant may not be that bad, it could be a very dangerous thing.
In Book IV, the ruler must be moderate, wise, courageous, and have a sense of justice. in
473, its argued that philosophers are the best to rule. They dont want to rule, though, because
they wont have the leisure to philosophize. In 474b, the philosopher is described as a lover of
wisdom. The problem is that someone can love something too much. The philosopher could love
wisdom too much, and harm his soul. This is why he has to learn moderation.
Platos Socrates regime slide argument doesnt really hold up. For example, the
regimes are supposed to descend, but Polymarcus goes up the regime-type ladder. Even though
the argument doesnt really hold up, the different regimes are closer together than one would
think. Switching from one regime to another isnt as easy as Platos Socrates describes it, but
there are many similarities between the regimes, like oligarchy and democracy, for example.
This argument also teaches that tyranny can be a very real thing. If the ideas presented fall into
the wrong hands, then there could be more potential tyrants existing than a city would be ready
for. Education is key in making sure that a tyranny doesnt happen.
Platos Socrates and the other men are discussing justice in the city, but education comes
up. In this city, the potential rulers receive two types of education: music and gymnastics. Music
is to make the soul better and for the man to learn moderation. Gymnastics ensures the body is
ready to fight. In this situation, the ruler will be a guardian, so the guardian needs to be proficient
in gymnastics and music. Music needs to be learned, because at this point in the dialogue,
moderation is the definition of justice.
The men discuss how they are going to create this perfect city with perfect moderate
people, and one of the options is to tell a noble lie (382a). They will tell people that everyone
was born from the same earth-mother, and that each person is born with a bronze, silver, or gold
soul. They will institute a type of communism to ensure the life is being upheld. At 451, the
women and men will be taught the same things. The problem with that argument is that women
and men have different natures. Women are more caring and patient, and men are more harsh
and tough. It would be difficult to teach men and women to be taught the same things. That
discussion ends and they start to discuss that they will control who procreates (459d). The men
wonder if something will go wrong. If something does go awry, the children of these people will
be taken and sorted, to weed out the bronze souls. (460-461). Their view is to educate the silver
and gold souls to believe that they truly are a certain type of soul and are born from the same
earth-mother. They will also make them study the good, because it is the greatest study of all
(505a-b).
The problem is that the good was never identified. If the good exists within the noble
lie, then it doesnt matter what it would be defined as, because it doesnt exist. This is another
factor one must consider when extracting lessons from this argument. The bronze soul theory
doesnt exist. Its all a lie, so this particular section teaches us about education because when
reading and analyzing Plato, one should always question what is being introduced. Never take an
idea literally unless there is unreasonable doubt Plato wants the passage to be taken literally.
The Republic also shows that education and politics go hand-in-hand. One of the main
concerns of this book is that if philosophers are meant to rule, but they dont want to, how does
one get them to rule? The answer is through philosophic education. Platos Socrates uses the
Allegory of the Cave to explain this concept. Once the man is freed from his restraints, he comes
out of the cave where he has been chained up all of his life. Once he reaches the sun, he wants to
go back inside, because its uncomfortable being in the bright light. The man can no longer go
back to normal, because he just learned that everything he believed to be real was a lie. This is
when he becomes a philosopher. He now knows the truth. The philosopher goes back into the
cave to retrieve people and to enlighten them. They deem him useless and dont pay attention to
him. He finally rules because he doesnt want someone lesser to rule. This story represents
philosophic education and the study of the good, where the sun represents the idea of good.
After he comes out of the cave, the problem is that the city wants to keep him from
remembering the good (518d). There is some relation between remembering and education. The
idea of the forms are already within, so the city does not want anyone to remember what those
forms are. The point is also brought up again that the best are the least eager to rule. A question
that hasnt been answered yet is the philosophers education. He will take the prerequisites of
music and gymnastics, but must also take geometry (537). The philosopher will be taught until
he is 50 years old (539e). Since the philosopher doesnt want to go back down into the cave, or
rule, then the founders force him.
at 487b, Adeimantus argues that philosophers are useless. He accidentally does this,
because Platos Socrates is setting him up so he can argue that philosophers in fact arent useless.
Starting at 488a, Platos Socrates discusses the story of the sailor. There is a ship of state, made
up of statesmen, leaders, etc. The ship owner is strong, but not smart. Hes referring to the many.
The sailors fight to see who will get pilot of the ship. None of them really know how, but each of
them thinks they are more deserving than the next man. Platos Socrates refers to politicians.
Then the true pilot is deemed as useless because he doesnt want to drink, feast, etc. This man is
the philosopher. The many dont notice him. The philosopher is either killed, exiled, or ignored.
The philosopher never asks to rule, but is never asked to rule, either. Cities are ruled on the basis
of indulging passions. In 489b, Platos Socrates states that the fault is with the many who dont
use the philosopher. That is why the philosopher is seen as useless.
While on the search for justice, Plato taught us something bigger. Plato lays out examples
that The Republic is meant to provide political teachings. Platos Socrates looks at the different
regimes and the different people that rise out of those regimes. Even though the regime slide
argument falls apart, it still describes the close relation within the regimes, and the dangers of
tyranny. Education is incredibly important in ensuring the proper training of the potential ruler,
whoever that may be. It is also important for citizens to be educated so they dont fall for the
noble lie, or the promises of the tyrant. This book shows that politics and education go hand-in-
hand. The ruler must be educated. The most educated dont want to rule, though. This is why
Platos Socrates shows that the perfect city isnt attainable, because the people fit for the job
never actually do it. These questions are still being asked today, like in Harry Potter. Even
though the Harry Potter books are fiction, he issue of the Philosopher Kingship still arise in
regimes all over the world.