Plato's "Republic"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the most influential of Plato's works, "The Republic". The author analyzes Plato's anti-democratic concept of the philosopher king, or the hypothetical ruler - that he should rule wisely and dispassionately, without a desire for personal gain like an autocrat. The paper also discusses Plato's ideal form of society, which is a carefully structured caste system and membership in each social stratum based upon each individual's capabilities. While agreeing with Plato's notions of the ideal republic, the author argues that the ideal selection of the philosopher king most often than not results from a shadowy and undemocratic process. The author also advocates that although democracy may sometimes be seen as a failure, it is a failure of choice.

From the Paper:

"According to the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, the true philosopher-king is an individual who, though once imprisoned like his fellow dwellers on earth, justifies his leadership of a society because of his liberation from the intellectual constraints created by the superficial nature of material, mundane human existence. Plato's concept of the nature of reality, the ability of human beings to apprehend knowledge within their cognitive limits, and his view of how society should be reconstructed are all tied to his fundamentally anti-democratic notion of the ideal 'philosopher king.' The ideal king rules wisely and dispassionately, without a desire for personal gain like an autocrat, or with an easily-swayed will like that of a demos, or democratic body of citizens ruling a polis by consensus"

Sample of Sources Used:

• Brown, Eric. "Plato's Ethics and Politics in The Republic." The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. April 1, 2003.http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/plato-ethics-politics/
• Plato. The Republic. Translated by Benjamin Jowett. MIT Classics Homepage. August 5, 2008. http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.5.iv.html
• Hooker, Richard. "Pericles Funeral Oration." 1996. Complete E-text available August 5, 2008 at http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/GREECE/PERICLES.HTM
• Plutarch. "The Life of Lycurgus." Complete E-text available August 5, 2008 at http://www.e-classics.com/lycurgus.htm

More papers on Plato's "Republic":

• Analytical Essay # 89696 : "Philosophers and Citizens in Plato's Republic"
• Term Paper # 91495 : "Plato and Representation"
• Comparison Essay # 55639 : "Plato and Descartes"
• Book Review # 93772 : "Plato's "Republic"

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