REPUBLIC…

POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY IN THE REPUBLIC

The Republic, which was written circa 380 BCE is one of Plato’s Socratic dialogues – fictionalised accounts of discussions between Greek philosophers. In the section on political philosophy, a discussion between Socrates and Glaucius debates what sort of people are fit to rule. At this time, rule in Athens was divided among a select few and those who got their way tended to be those who used persuasion through clever use of words rather than reason and wisdom: how they said something was more important than what they said. He puts the following idea into Socrates’ mouth.

Until philosophers are kings, or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy, and political greatness and wisdom meet in one, and those commoner natures who pursue either to the exclusion of the other are compelled to stand aside, cities will never have rest from their evils, nor the human race, as I believe, and then only will this our state have a possibility of life and behold the light of day.