[IS PLATO’S IDEA OF ‘PHILOSOPHER KING’ RELEVANT TODAY?

] 2013

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT

The Objective of this project was as under-

1. To make conceptual analysis of Plato’s thought, regarding Political Morality.

2. To impart knowledge of cardinal virtues to the Statesman, Individuals as well as
Society.
3. To make efforts that Plato’s theoretical Philosophy convert in to the Practical
Philosophy.
4. To give knowledge regarding government forms which are established in the world.

--------------

UGC-MINOR RESEARCH PROJECT Page 1

 [IS PLATO’S IDEA OF ‘PHILOSOPHER KING’ RELEVANT TODAY?] 2013

SUMMARY

Nearly 2600 years ago Plato had written his thought using the dialogue method. All of
us know that, there are varying degrees of controversy over which Plato’s works are
authentic, and in what order they were written, due to their antiquity and the manner of their
preservation through time. Although, there is no doubt that Plato was one of the greatest
philosopher world has. His famous works include Statesman, Laws and The Republic. In the
Republic he has explained his thought regarding welfare society. Who should be ruler? Who
should be a Philosopher? Nature of Psyche and Cardinal virtues, these are the main topic of
the Republic.
Plato describes five regimes of the government form which depend on their division
of psyche, those ruled by the lawless having unnecessary appetites (Tyrants), those ruled by
nonlawless but having unnecessary appetites’(Democrats), those ruled by necessary appetites
(Oligarchs), those ruled by unnecessary spirited desires (Timocrats); those ruled by necessary
spirited desires combined with rational desires (Philosopher). For the sake of good
governance, Philosopher should rule the state. According to Book 9, (On Wrong or Right
Government and the Features of Each) "there are three primary types of people: Each is ruled
by a distinct psyche part. Each has its own characteristic desire with its own distinctive
pleasure.

a) Money-Lover: The Money-Lover is ruled by appetite. His characteristic desire

is for the money necessary to satisfy his desires for the pleasures of food,
drink, and sex, which he values above all others.
b) Victory-Lover: The Victory-Lover or Honour-Lover is ruled by aspiration. His
life is totally dedicated to the pleasure of "power, victory, and high repute".
c) Wisdom-Lover: The wisdom-lover or The Philosopher is ruled by reason. He
most values the pleasure of learning and knowing the truth about things.

For a Statesman to rule primary type c should be the most appropriate.

Plato's four cardinal virtues are most important and these are main characteristics of
Philosopher ruler

UGC-MINOR RESEARCH PROJECT Page 2

 [IS PLATO’S IDEA OF ‘PHILOSOPHER KING’ RELEVANT TODAY?] 2013
1. Prudence (wisdom): that is the right judgment and actions at all times,
2. Justice : that is always giving people their rights,
3. Moderation (Self-control, Temperance): that is practicing self-control and
4. Courage: that is the ability to fight fear and uncertainty.

By sketching a psychological portrait of the tyrant, he attempts to prove that injustice

tortures a man’s soul, whereas a just soul is a healthy, happy, untroubled and calm. Next he
argues that, though each of the three main character types, money-loving, honour-loving, and
truth-loving—have their own conceptions of pleasure and of the corresponding good life,
each choosing his own life as the most pleasant. Only the philosopher can judge for only he
has experienced all three types of pleasure. Others should accept the philosopher’s judgement
and conclude that the pleasures associated with the philosopher are most pleasant and thus
that the just life is also most pleasant.

Philosophers form the only class of men to possess knowledge and are also the most
just men. Their souls, more than others, aim to fulfil the desires of the rational part. After
comparing the philosopher king to the most unjust type of man—represents by the tyrant,
who is ruled entirely by his non-rational appetites—Plato claims that justice is worthwhile for
its own sake. In Book 9 he presents three arguments for the conclusion that it is desirable to
be just.

Only those whose minds are trained to grasp the Forms, the philosophers, can know
all. In particular, what the philosophers must know in order to become able rulers is the Form
of the Good, the source of all other Forms, and of knowledge, truth, and beauty.

There are more than 200 countries in the world and the number is still growing day by
day. For the welfare establishment of social system in any country there is one or the other
form of government. None of them, so many forms of government and five forms of
government described by Plato, as explained in this project by me are neither flawless
completely nor faulty wholly. All the forms have been experienced by different states in the
world and are being experienced even today. In every country there are some evils like
corruption, looting, dacoit, rape, murder, molestation which are destructive elements of
society which were found in ancient period and is seen in the present scenario as well.

UGC-MINOR RESEARCH PROJECT Page 3

 [IS PLATO’S IDEA OF ‘PHILOSOPHER KING’ RELEVANT TODAY?] 2013
Secondly, Nearly 347 B.C. Plato said an ideal government is must for an ideal society.
What does an ‘ideal government’ mean? Plato answers this question- the king should be a
Philosopher in order to rule. An ideal king should think like philosopher with courage,
wisdom, justice etc. and their uses prevail.
Thirdly, I propose one additional thing here that is philosopher not necessarily mean
an academician of philosophy but a person who has the sense of ethical concepts and
understanding of wisdom, courage, moderation, justice, and the sense of practical utility. I
think by this the concept of philosopher king not only remains theoretical but also becomes
practical. (May not be 100% practical but it will be helpful for maximum goodness)
Fourthly, for any king or administrator even with the above virtues, 100% perfectness
or ideal king or ideal society can never exist. Ideal king, ideal government and ideal society
or meaning of 100% perfect cannot be used, and can never be practiced in future. No one is
perfect in the world and no one can use these words like ‘perfect king’, and ‘welfare
government and society’. But one point is clear here Plato’s wisdom, courage, moderation
and justice if taken by any administrator and used consciously then it can help to make
administration people oriented and lead to an optimum ideal society. From this point of view
Plato’s ethical theory is significant.
---------------

UGC-MINOR RESEARCH PROJECT Page 4

 [IS PLATO’S IDEA OF ‘PHILOSOPHER KING’ RELEVANT TODAY?] 2013

ACHIEVEMENTS FROM THE PROJECT

Plato’s achievement as a political philosopher may be seen in that he believed that

there could be a body of knowledge whose attainment would make it possible to heal political
problems, such as factionalism and the corruption of morals, which can bring a city to a
decline. The doctrine of the harmony of interests, fairness as the basis of the best political
order, the mixed constitution, the rule of law, the distinction between good and deviated
forms of government, practical wisdom as the quality of good leadership, and the importance
of virtue and transcendence for politics are the political ideas that can rightly be associated
with Plato. They have profoundly influenced subsequent political thinkers.

--------------

UGC-MINOR RESEARCH PROJECT Page 5

 [IS PLATO’S IDEA OF ‘PHILOSOPHER KING’ RELEVANT TODAY?] 2013

SUGGESTATION & CONTRIBUTION TO THE SOCIETY

At the end of my research work some important point I am putting forward for the
consideration, which will be helpful for wellbeing of human being as well as welfare society.

1. According to Book 9, (On Wrong or Right Government and the Features of Each)
"there are three primary types of people: Each is ruled by a distinct psyche part.
Each has its own characteristic desire, its own distinctive pleasure.

a) Money-Lover: The Money-Lover is ruled by appetite. His characteristic desire

is for the money necessary to satisfy his desires for the pleasures of food,
drink, and sex, which he values above all others.
b) Victory-Lover: The Victory-Lover or Honour-Lover is ruled by aspiration. His
life is wholly dedicated to the pleasure of "power, victory, and high repute".
c) Wisdom-Lover: The wisdom-lover or The Philosopher is ruled by reason. He
most values the pleasure of learning and knowing the truth about things.

Any statesman should rule with c.

d) Every Statesman should moderate their unnecessary desires through

appropriate training, education and intelligence.
e) Every Statesman should rule with Justice and according to their
consciousness.
f) Leadership of the Polis should be possess a ‘philosophic nature’ will be
completed by education and maturity’.

----------------------

UGC-MINOR RESEARCH PROJECT Page 6