Why Is A Republic The Best Form Of Government – In modern society, most of the world is a democracy. After seeing what happened to Germany with Fascism and Russia with Communism, we have concluded that democracy, while not a perfect system, is the best system we have found.

However, Plato, one of the greatest thinkers of all time and a student of Socrates, strongly disagreed. In his most famous work, “The Republic”, he presented his ideas of an ideal state. He condemns the pursuit of freedom because he believes it only leads to indulgence. Instead, society should focus on cultivating temperance, patience and courage. He believed in a class system consisting of producers, guardians and rulers. In this society, everyone works in the occupation in which they are most talented.

Why Is A Republic The Best Form Of Government

It all sounds like communism to me. Although Plato’s ideas go against many of the core beliefs of modern political theory, I think there are some important concepts here that we can learn from.

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Plato was one of the first Utopians. He wanted to create a society and form of government that would allow everyone to reach a state he called eudaimonia, which basically means human flourishing or prosperity. It is the ideal state of human beings. In “The Republic”, he explains what this would look like.

The state will have a lot of control over its citizens. There will be strict censorship of art, poetry and literature that is not compatible with the goals of the state. For example, the hero of any story should always act as an ideal citizen. Money and power should not be considered desirable. The ultimate goal is to cultivate virtue and wisdom, which is achieved through the acquisition of knowledge.

Unlike most thinkers of his time, Plato believed that women should have the same role as men in society. They argue that women have the same potential as men to become soldiers, blacksmiths and rulers.

Manufacturers are common. They are traders, farmers, blacksmiths etc. They provide the basic needs of society, which allow it to function properly. Producers are the only people who own private property or assets, although they have no power. Plato’s logic behind this was that by breaking the link between money and power, the ruler would not become greedy.

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Parents are the guardians of society. Their mission is to protect the society against internal and external threats. Parents lead a very disciplined life. Their diet and exercise are regulated, they are forbidden to own property or wealth. They cannot even touch gold or silver. The songs, stories and poems they are exposed to are censored, so they are only exposed to good influences. They are not even allowed to have exclusive sexual relationships, and their children are taken away from them at birth and raised as collectives. This is done so that parents do not become attached to sexual partners, and so that they do not favor one child over another.

Young children who are believed to have the potential to become great rulers are chosen as guardians. Then rulers or “philosopher kings” are chosen from among the best guardians.

Plato believed that governing was a skill, and like painting or dancing, it should be trained. Guardians are trained in the arts of war as well as virtue and knowledge so that they can become rulers. The best guardian is chosen as the philosopher-king. The king has the ultimate authority in the society. Plato argues that since kings are philosophers, power will not tempt them, and they will act for the good of society. Philosophers are enlightened people, with a duty to convey their knowledge and wisdom to people who know little.

This is an analogy that Plato uses to show that we know nothing (I’m sure the inspiration came from Socrates. “I know that I know nothing” — Socrates). He compares life to prisoners staring at a wall with fire behind them. Between the fire and the prisoners is a passage, where people walk holding objects like dogs, books and stones. The prisoners have been chained all their lives, and think that the shadows cast by objects are real things.

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Then suddenly a prisoner is freed! He goes out and observes the world for what it really is. When he comes back and tells his friends about what he saw, they think he’s crazy!

Plato says that being freed from the cave is like becoming a philosopher. Through logic and thought philosophers can see things for what they really are and arrive at the ultimate truth, which is why only philosophers should be rulers.

Another concept that Plato talks about is the devolution of government. From a philosopher-king to a tyrant. It begins with an ideal society or aristocracy. Then one misidentifies the guardian, so that they are guided by honor, rather than following knowledge. Society then develops into a tymocracy. Next, the ruling class becomes greedy and craves money. They make policies that ensure their wealth, and society becomes an oligarchy. Eventually, the people become dissatisfied with the rulers and revolt. Society develops in democracy. Alas, democracy is the three stages that evolved from Plato’s ideal society! Plato believed that since policy is determined by the people, society will become lawless. People will be overjoyed. They buy luxury goods, have sex all the time and crave for power. He believed that society would fall into chaos, and eventually, a tyrant would rule, leading to tyranny.

Thinking about this I am not sure if Plato is right or wrong. We certainly do not live in a lawless society, although power and money are considered desirable, and people will indulge if there are no consequences.

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I certainly believe that Plato’s aristocracy would not work in practice, although there are some concepts here such as the most knowledgeable and wise being the ruler and the allegory of the cave that is worth some thought.

I am a 16 year old working on artificial intelligence algorithms. Feel free to contact me via LinkedIn or via my email at @gmail.com. Presentation on theme: “US History Ms. Ramirez Foundations of American Political and Social Thought the Enlightenment.”— Presentation transcript:

11.1 Students analyze important events in the founding of the nation and its attempt to realize the philosophy of government described in the Declaration of Independence 1. Describe the rise of Enlightenment and democratic ideas as the context in which the nation was founded.

The Magna Carta (1215)—which originated 2,500 years ago in the ancient Greek city-states—forced King John to guarantee certain civil and political liberties.

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5 Petition of Right Petition of Right (1626) – Parliament forced Charles I to sign this document, limiting the power of the monarchy. Protection against imprisonment without jury trial Enforcement of martial law during peacetime Compulsory quartering of troops Taxation without approval of Parliament

Prohibited to suspend or pass laws Prohibited raising taxes without the consent of the Crown Parliament Guaranteed the right to a fair and speedy trial Prohibited cruel and unusual punishment

Values ​​reason, science, religious tolerance and natural rights as keys to improving society. Argued that democracy would improve the human condition unrelated to religion or life after death

Thomas Hobbes ( ) wrote “The Leviathan” to defend the absolute power of King Leviathan = government, a powerful state designed to impose order

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10 Thomas Hobbes State of Nature- We are all equal, free to do what we please to live. No law and no one to enforce it Individuals constitute the supreme power to impose peace The people empower the sovereign to enforce law and create security.

1. Natural Rights- exist in the state of nature and the rights to life, liberty and property cannot be taken away or given away are inalienable (impossible to surrender)

The king had no absolute power The king acted as an enforcer of laws and protected the rights of the people If the rights were violated, the king could be overthrown

Government is only necessary to promote the ‘public good’ supreme power under the legislature Jefferson used his principles in the Declaration of Independence.

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Humans are good, but the society they live in is corrupt and evil Property ownership corrupts people and leads to inequality, murder, and war The social contract was a fraud against the people by the rich.

Individuals should not give up their natural rights to the king, but the community as a whole Direct democracy best- everyone votes All political power in the hands of the people- no separation of powers Rousseau’s general desire “We the people…” at the beginning of the Constitution

17 Montesquieu: () In a ‘state of nature’ individuals avoid violence and war Need for food creates societies State of war leads to law and government Main purpose of government- law and order, political freedom and preservation of property

A balance of powers or separation of powers in government prototypes for “checks and balances” as opposed to absolute monarchy.

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19 Montesquieu: () accepted the British Constitution as the best example of government: King (enacted laws) Parliament (elected, made laws) Judges of English courts (interpreted laws) Americans adopted this system

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