The teacher perceives that although the philosopher king would be the finest choice for a ruler, it was much more likely that for a despot to hold the position of power. The Socrates makes is that a philosopher would make the best king. If a man could possess both philosophic thinking, and the proper skills necessary for ruling an assembly of people, said the teacher, then he would be the perfect king. I partially understand; however, I’m not aware of what qualities a philosopher has that make him so perfect. Allow me to explain.
Aristotle argues that material is what an object consist of and this matter we could not live without. He feels that education is the key and having the experience is good for happiness. Aristotle states that it is important to consider our ethical first principle not merely as a conclusion drawn from certain premises, but also in its relation to the popular opinion (Aristotle, 701). He says how it is important to follow what we believe and because
In order to create the type of society that both Plato and Lao Tsu desire to emulate, it is critical that the ruler have the characteristics and qualities that will lead the respective societies in harmony with their philosophical principles. The Republic of Plato offers a theoretical society of enforced elitism. In the work, Plato, citing Socrates whom was Plato’s teacher and often referenced in the dialogue, explicates that the ideal community would be one in which each person has a particular craft, a particular rank, and a fond love for knowledge. Although Socrates expects citizens to love educating themselves and searching for wisdom, he also believes that children of the community should be brought up believing that the world is a perfect realm with no blemishes. Socrates endorses that children’s stories should be modified to encourage the notions of a perfect civilization, which in-turn would directly influence the way the youth view life.
Things would run better with no competition for office. The program would have problems. The people of the state might not agree with the program. Philosophers may refuse to take up office because the life of a philosopher would be better than that of a ruler. It would be hard for this program to work in a democracy since the people may not agree with it.
Plato decided that both, men and women, should have the same education and the pursuit of happiness. This concludes that in ancient times, Plato was trying to make the greatest society and resulted in having equal rights of the same gender. In addition, Aristotle was a philosopher that generated these theories on reason (Document 2). Government in Western Civilization is based on reason because many rulers use intelligence and wisdom. In big decision, this is curtail because one must look past all the little details and decide from what is right and what the population needs.
He also shows that the people cannot know what is good for them in the long run and will only chose politicians and laws that seem a good idea at the time, without considering the consequences. Plato also illustrates this flaw in politicians and the people in simile of the powerful beast. He describes the
Therefore, he would likely think that Plato’s ideology is too optimistic, if not ignorant, and that one must have a realist viewpoint to survive this world. Machiavelli’s “The Prince” directs rulers to be practical and do basically anything to stay in power, even if it requires being evil. He would reject Plato’s opinions regarding rulers, since Plato believed that rulers must “ascend until they arrive at the good” (55) and “the State in which the rulers are most reluctant to govern is always the best and most quietly governed, and in the State in which they are most eager, the worst” (61). Plato's views directly contrast to Machiavelli’s views on the ruler, which is that the best and most effective ruler is one that does everything possible to maintain the power in which he holds. He is only worried about the attainable future and ideals, while Plato is more focused about the enlightenment of man, and the understanding of knowledge.
Despite his selfish reign, Augustus is collectively referred to as one of the most dominant and ideal leaders in history due to the obvious facts that he: unified a powerless Senate, rebuilt the Capitol, and most importantly expanded the Roman Empire. However, further examination of Augustus’s personally and selfishly written deeds reveal quite the opposite when acknowledging the murder of his uncle. Through this acknowledgement, it is evident Augustus did not evolve into the ideal leader portrayed throughout the “Deeds of Divine Augustus”, but on the contrary, a vengeful dictator seeking world domination found through retaliation against his Uncle’s
According to him human reason was the most important human quality. Men like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle believed that using your brain rather than using mythology to solve questions. Another major achievement of the Greeks was there government. Athens had a democratic
His position in life as being a good man and act as one, to live a proper and truthful life. The questioning attitude he thought Athens explaining that fundamentally there are logical reasons behind phenomena and events. Through his conversation with the jury, Socrates insists that he is no expert of any field whats so ever and he is not a wise man at all. Socrates follower Chaerphon visited the Oracle who spoke of Socrates being the wisest man in Greece. To prove the Oracle wrong Socrates went searching for a wiser man than he in Athens.