Why the Philospher Should Rule (Plato) - 1708 Words

1) (From the Republic Book VII) WHY SHOULD THE PHILOSOPHER RULE? EXPLAIN WHY HE IS BEST SUITED TO RULE AND EXPLAIN 2) WHY IT IS A DILEMMA FOR HE TO CHOOSE TO RULE. WHY DOES HE HAVE TO BE COMPELLED AND WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THE COMPULSION? 3) BE SURE TO COMMENT ON HOW THIS QUESTION IS RELATED TO THE ANSWER PLATO ATTEMPTS TO CONSTRUCT TO GLAUCONS CHALLENGE? Part 1 In Plato’s Republic, Plato sets out to prove that it is always better to be just than unjust. Doing so requires him to look into the soul of human beings. Souls by nature are difficult to examine so he suggests that he use the analogy of a city-state. Using this as an analogy suggests that finding the â€Å"ideal† functionality of the state he will also have found the†¦show more content†¦In the Allegory the prisoners represent the general population in society, the cave represented lack of education and the released prisoner represents the philosopher. The philosopher, represented by the prisoner, has escaped the lack of education is now capable of grasping Form of Good allowing him to see all other forms. Having obtained understanding of the Form of the Good, the philosopher, just as the prisoner who had seen the light is best fit to lead the prisoners out of the cave, the philosopher is best fit to rule the city-state. Part 2 At this point the philosopher is faced with a dilemma. Why, after finding this â€Å"Earthly Paradise† of the Form of Good, would the philosopher return to the cave and take upon himself the task of leading his former comrades when returning to the cave means returning to the darkness? Even though the philosopher is best fit to rule what would compel them to do so? Plato being aware of this dilemma offers a reason the philosopher would be compelled to rule. One reason the philosopher would return to rule would be a sense of obligation to his former fellows. After all, he was enabled to reach this understanding of forms by the education the city made available to him. Since the city gave him this knowledge he owes them his service as ruler. This claim is countered by the suggestion that by compelling the philosopher toShow MoreRelatedWalts Whitmans Vision of America in Leaves of Grass17685 Words   |  71 Pagesis†©certainly†©worth†©remembering†©inà ¢â‚¬ ©a†©time†©when†©mankind’s†©interests†©and†©concerns†©lay†©so†© far†©away†©from†©his†©ideals.†© While†©analyzing†©Walt†©Whitman’s†©poetry†©and†©reading†©his†©verses,†©it†©is†©important†©to†© keep†©in†©mind†©that†©he†©was†©not†©a†©politician,†©nor†©a†©philospher†©or†©essayist†©and†©therefore†© could†©afford†©to†©disclose†©his†©human†©side.†©He†©wrote†©in†©Ã‚ «Song†©of†©Myself »:†©Ã‚ «Do†©I†©contradict†© myself?†©Very†©well†©then†©I†©contradict†©myself,†©(I†©am†©large,†©I†©contain†©multitudes.) » †©Ã¢â‚¬ ©Thus†©some†© 1 of†©his†©ideas†©might†©be†©confusing