Republic 5 (471c-480a)

The Philosopher-Kings I

 

Contents:

 

Philosophers as Kings  (471c-474b)

  • Socrates has demonstrated that a just city such as the one he has described is possible in theory.  The question remains, however, as to whether it is possible in reality as well.  His answer is that it would be possible only of philosophers were allowed to rule or if rulers become philosophers (473d).

    • This surprising observation would probably have been as dubious to the average Greek as it is for contemporary readers.  In order to defend his position, Socrates needs to clearly define what he means by a philosopher, why the philosopher is better suited to rule than others, and what sort of training he/she would need.  This discussion would continue through the then end of Book VII, and in some ways represents the heart of the Republic.

Definition of the Philosopher  (474b-480a)

  • It should be pointed out that Plato has a very specific idea of what a philosopher is.  He begins his attempt to define the philosopher in the following way(474c-475c):

    • A lover of X loves not juts a certain kind of X, but all X  

      • [e.g., a lover of food loves all food, a lover of wine loves all wine]

    • Philosophers are lovers of wisdom

    • The Philosopher therefore is that person who loves all wisdom and learning, not just wisdom and learning of a certain kind.

  • Glaucon objects (475d-e) that according to Socrates' definition lovers of sites an sounds (e.g., those who love festivals and spectacles) would be considered philosophers.

    • "Glaucon here makes a somewhat complex mistake, which Socrates then endeavors to combat.  Part of his mistake is to take the term 'philosopher' in Plato's sense as including people with various specialized enthusiasms, such as those who ignore "serious discussions" in order to attend festivals.  The other part of his mistake, which is much more important from Plato's viewpoint, is to think that the love of wisdom or learning or knowledge involves the love of information and experience of sensible matters rather than the intelligible ones..."  (White 154-155).

  • The philosopher, responds Socrates is a lover of true knowlege.  (475e-476d)

    • The love of true knowledge is related to an understanding of the "forms"

    • This is what makes a philosopher fit to rule.

  • In response to Glaucon's objection, Socrates argues that those who love sights and sounds (476d-480a), are not philosophers (lovers of wisdom and knowledge), but are lovers of opinion.

PHILOSOPHER NON-PHILOSOPHER

 

LOVES KNOWLEDGE  (Gnosis) =

  • infallible

  • concerned with "what is"

  • BEING

 

LOVES OPINION  (Doxa)

  • fallible

  • between knowledge and ignorance

  • between BEING and Non-BEING

 

OBJECT = FORMS

  • eternal and unchanging

  • i.e., "The Beautiful"

 

OBJECT = The SENSIBLE

  • temporal and changing

  • i.e., "a beautiful woman"

 

Ergo:  Fit to Rule

 

 

Ergo: Unfit to Rule

 

  • This section represents the beginning of the heavy metaphysical portion of the Republic.  Although Plato throws out these metaphysical concepts without much warning or support, what we have here is a general outline of his theory.  Later in Book VI we will be given a more through treatment of the ideas that he throws out here.

 

   Suggestions for Further Reading

  • Annas, Julia. An Introduction to Plato's Republic.  New York:  Oxford UP, 1981.  [170-189]

  • Benardette, Seth.  Socrates' Second Sailing:  On Plato's Republic.  Chicago: University of Chicago, 1989.  [109-143]

  • Bloom, Allan.  The Republic of Plato.  New York: Harper Collins, 1968.   [379-397]

  • Bluestone, Natalie Harris.  "Why Women Cannot Rule:  Sexism in Plato Scholarship."  Feminist Interpretations of Plato.  Ed.  Nancy Tuana.  University Park, PA:  Pensylvania State University Press, 1994.  [109-130]

  • Pappas, Nickolas.  Plato and the Republic.  New York: Routlege, 1995.   [99-114]

  • Sallis, John.  Being and Logos:  Reading the Platonic Dialogues.  Bloomington:  Indiana University Press, 1996.  [371-401] 

  • Saxonhouse, Arlene W.  "The Philosopher and the Femal in the Political Thought of Plato."  Feminist Interpretations of Plato.  Ed.  Nancy Tuana.  University Park, PA:  Pensylvania State University Press, 1994.  [67-85]

  • Spelman, Elizabeth V.  "Hairy Cobblers and Philosopher Queens."  Feminist Interpretations of Plato.  Ed.  Nancy Tuana.  University Park, PA:  Pensylvania State University Press, 1994.  [87-107]

  • Vlastos, Gregory. "Was Plato a Feminist?"  Plato's Republic:  Critical Essays.  Ed. Richard Kraut.  Lanham, MD:  Rowman and Littlefield, 1997.  

  • White,  Nicholas P.  A Companion to Plato's Republic.  Indianapolis: Hackett, 1979.  [139-162]

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