It also stressed the political role of the independent landowner and warned against the tendency of political power to encroach upon liberty. A republic demanded a virtuous citizenry and thus a high moral code to ensure continued freedom. The founders thought that luxury, factionalism, and other vices were ever-present dangers, seeds of destruction that lurked in the souls of their fellow citizens and within themselves. (1) Additionally, a man's investment in luxuries signaled to his fellow Americans that he might support the ideas of aristocracy and monarchy instead of republicanism. Therefore republicanism called for thriftiness, simplicity and plainness in all things, be it fashion or food.
Thesis Statement: In The Allegory of the Cave, Socrates outlined a program that would make sure Athens had good rulers and a good government, which would have worked for Socrates time, but not in the present. The program would have benefits. Philosophers would make better leaders than normal people. No one would take office because of personal ambitions. Things would run better with no competition for office.
A citizen is someone who shares in the administration of justice and in the offices. This definition applies to the citizen of a democracy mainly. He is positive to believe in that any good could come of democracy. Aristole introduced how to achieve the ideal form of the democracy government. The first way is the realization of justice.
Thoreau then talks about the issue of change through democratic ways. He believes that the real problem is trying to reform with those who don’t approve of the government choices but silently offer their loyalty. Thoreau sees an opposite relationship between money and freedom. The poor man has the greatest freedom to fight because he depends the least on the government
The democratic form of government is most familiar to the modern western citizen. However, there are many forms of communism and dictatorships which exist around the world today. The ancient philosopher Plato protests that a monarchist oligarchy, which calls upon an elite group for governance, is the best possible form of government. However, based on vagueness in terms and overgeneralizations Plato creates a flaw in his argument and weakens its validity. Through the elimination of social class systems and based on the separation between Government and economy it may be seen that the platonic ‘drone’ will not lead to tyranny.
In using tools such as propaganda and the repetition of well-known ‘clichés’, citizens are tricked into believing what the government needs them to believe. The government divides the society into incompatible castes, which often act as a social barrier. This can be exemplified in the precept that citizens belonging to each class will wear clothes Farhat 1 that will clearly distinguish them from other castes. The most predominant caste is Alphas and the endmost are the Epsilons. The Alphas are seen as the most capable caste in terms of their size and intelligence.
In Yi Yin’s eyes the aged and virtuous were to be the idols of society and deeply respected. It was the elders company that a ruler should seek because they could provide wise advice. A ruler who attempted to appear youthful was attempting to appear inexperienced and uneducated. Yi Yin would not advise public policy be made based on the opinion polls of the common people but they would be a good indicator as to whether or not
He explains that the strong can only be powerful when they make just choices, otherwise they will be overthrown by a united majority. Plato, and Socrates, introduces the idea that knowledge exists for the benefit of others, and that justice is no different. Therefore, rulers must exist to benefit others, or else they will rule no more. The Republic goes on to show many more examples throughout text, including why justice benefits the weak as well. Socrates argues that justice, when defined properly, is not subjective nor does it benefit only one group of people.
I will begin by recounting the demographic structures that are present in Plato’s “Just” state, and by exploring his epistemological and metaphysical claims, highlight the impossibility of such a ruler. Plato sets the stage for his Philosopher King by first laying down the foundations of his “Just” city. He does this by defining a series of classes that comprise the state; the producing class, the auxiliary class, and the ruling class. The Producing class is responsible for producing both necessary and non-necessary items, the Auxiliary class for defense, and the Ruling class for ruling the state. Along with this assigning of roles, Plato describes the make-up of the human soul and how that predisposes certain people to be placed in one of these three classes.
What is more amazing is that Laozi and Plato had almost the same idea about the ideal society. In Laozi's theory, the right way to rule a country is to strengthen people's bodies so that they could do more work and simplify their minds so that they would content with their positions. In his mind the ideal citizens of a society is the humblest, the most unwise and ignorant ones, while the most intelligent ones should see to that. He believed if ordinary people always stay ignorant, there would be no riot and the rulers need not do anything to keep their authority. The whole world would be a better place.