The Dilemma of the Philosopher and the City
Date Submitted: 12/03/2003 05:44:22
Category: / Social Sciences / Philosophy
Length: 7 pages (1917 words)
Category: / Social Sciences / Philosophy
Length: 7 pages (1917 words)
The Dilemma of the Philosopher and the City In the third wave in Book V of the Republic, Socrates proposes his idea of the philosopher-king (473d). The philosopher, Socrates claims, is superior to anyone else in any respect, and hence he should be king. Notwithstanding his superiority, the philosopher does not want to deviate from philosophy and be the ruler. The citizens also rebel against the rule of the philosopher, because they cannot understand the …
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…It might be that he wants to find a city where his teacher, Socrates, can survive and initiate philosophy. But, the most just city cannot exist, which means the philosopher can never be the king. Plato, as far as in the Republic, fails to find a just city for the philosophy, which suggests that people should stop dreaming ultimate justice and try to form a less just but more realistic city, e.g. Aristotle's Polis.
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