Socrates as Philosopher King Essay - 1709 Words

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 Platos 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†¦show more content†¦He says in section 29c of the Apology: I, men of Athens, salute you and love you, but I will obey the god rather than you; and as long as I breathe and am able to, I will certainly not stop philosophizing.3 Ultimately, he chose to die (by dri nking a cup of poison) rather than agree he was misleading the people. This shows that he was courageous in life and in death. But was he moderate? According to Socrates, moderation lies not in restraining ones desires. Instead, true moderation comes only with love of truth.4 In The Republic, Socrates is forced into a discussion about the nature of justice, virtue, etc. Although he enters into the discussion against his will, he never imposes his views on others. Instead, like a sincere seeker of truth, he acknowledges other points of view, and uses their weaknesses to formulate his own ideas. In doing so, Socrates demonstrates that he is a lover of truth. A true lover never forces his love upon others. Instead, like a caring teacher, he leads his students to accept the truth on their own. In the end, Socrates stays with the youths for the whole night, and answers all their questions. In this sense, Socrates has proven to be moderate, for he loves philosophy at the expen se of mundane worldly pleasures. Finally, there is no doubt that Socrates is just. In Book IV, Socrates argues that justice is an art; it is some kind of knowledge that only certain people possess (335c).5 In theShow MoreRelatedThe Philosophy Of Socrates And Dr. Martin Luther King933 Words   |  4 Pagesthe words of Socrates, in Plato’s Crito or the emotional words that were spewed on paper by Dr. Martin Luther King while detained in Birmingham Jail. The philosophy of Socrates and Dr. Martin Luther King are grounded in peace. Both philosophers are faced with conflict from the laws put in place by the society that they are in. The purpose of this essay is to compare how each philosopher discusses the concept of law. The fictional tales of Socrates was inspiration to the belated Dr. King as he strivedRead MoreThe Republic, By Plato1500 Words   |  6 Pagesin-depth review in order to see if the arguments made by Socrates stand solid. Three main concepts will be delved into in a chronological order, those b eing philosophers and imitators, perceptive reality and absolute knowledge, with the analysis of the true meaning, and the implications raised by the statements, followed by noting possible flaws within the arguments. Such structure allows us to clearly comprehend the arguments for a philosopher king at its simplest form and ensures the possibility toRead MorePhilosopher King Essay640 Words   |  3 Pages1. Who is the Philosopher King - the ideal rulers, philosophers who become kings 2. Why is he the ideal ruler – Plato believes the PK is the ideal ruler because they will govern with virtue and justice with no hidden agenda, the PK loves learning, knowledge, truth 3. 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