Socrates as Philosopher King

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History is ripe with stories of great men. Hundreds of politicians, philosophers, performers, and writers have left a unique stamp on humanity. But only a select few can be said to have "changed history." The legendary Athenian, Socrates, was one such figure. Socrates ushered in an era of philosophical inquiry that still lingers to this day. In Book Seven of Plato's The Republic, Socrates outlines his perfect regime. According to Socrates, an enlightened "Philosopher-King" must rule such a regime. Now suppose this Republic actually came into being, and Socrates was asked to rule it as a Philosopher King. Would he? Answering this begs three important questions: Is Socrates a true philosopher? Does he have the appropriate virtues? Finally, and most importantly, if Socrates has the capacity to rule, why is he silent about it?

One way to decipher whether Socrates would have accepted the position of Philosopher-King is to examine whether he has the appropriate virtues. These virtues are expounded in Book VI of The Republic. In passage 487a, Socrates says that the Philosopher will be moderate, courageous, and just.1 Although all people possess these qualities, they are perfected in the body of the philosopher. Socrates' life was an embodiment of these virtues. He was courageous because he lived in constant pre-occupation with the eternal; thus, he was oblivious to the luxuries of life. Plato, Aristophanes, and Ameipsias all show him to be a humble man whose only worldly pleasure was the pursuit of knowledge.2 This pursuit was not easy. Socrates was constantly ridiculed by the Athenians and was ostracized for his views. But he continued his pursuit. He never gave in to the social prejudices against p...

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...: Accessed on April 17, 2014.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socrates

Notes

1 Bloom, Allan [trans]. The Republic of Plato. P. 167

2 "Socrates". Encyclopedia Brittanica Online: Accessed on April 17, 2000.

http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/0/0,5716,117549+2+109554,00.html

3 Wests, Thomas G and Grace Starr. Plato's Apology of Socrates. Taken from Texts on Socrates. P. 81

4 Bloom, Allan [trans]. The Republic of Plato. P. 359

5 Ibid. P. 13

6 Hebert, Joe. Tutorial notes. March 21, 2000

7 Extrapolated from 25c from Wests, Thomas G and Grace Starr. Plato's Apology of Socrates. Taken from

Texts on Socrates. P. 75

8 Bloom, Allan [trans]. The Republic of Plato. P. 499

9 Ibid. P. 407

10 Wests, Thomas G and Grace Starr. Plato's Apology of Socrates. Taken from Texts on Socrates. P. 83

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