Justice in a person and a city › The Philosopher-King

This brings us to Plato's most controversial proposal: the ideal city must be ruled by philosophers, or existing rulers must become genuine philosophers. Until this happens, Socrates declares, cities will never cease from evil. Socrates' proposal is that political power and philosophy must coincide before cities can escape their troubles (Book V, 473c–e). This is a paraphrase, rather than a quotation from a particular translation. Why philosophers? Because ruling requires knowledge of the Good. Just as you would not want a ship captained by someone ignorant of navigation, you should not want a city governed by those ignorant of justice and human flourishing. Socrates contrasts a life directed toward wealth or honor with one directed toward philosophical understanding. Philosophers who care less for wealth and honor than for understanding are, on Socrates' account, the appropriate candidates for the highest governing role. ::: {.callout-note title="The Philosopher-King"} Plato's ideal ruler is someone who has achieved philosophical wisdom, understands the Form of the Good, and rules not for personal gain but for the genuine benefit of the whole city. Such rulers must be compelled to govern because they would rather contemplate truth. ::: The dialogue itself raises the objection that philosophers appear useless or vicious in existing cities (Book VI, 487b–d). Plato's *Phaedo* ends with the account of Socrates' execution. Plato's response concerns philosophical natures: they are rare, and existing societies usually spoil their development. The philosophic nature (curious, truth-loving, capable of abstract thought) can be turned by bad education toward great wrongdoing (491d–492c). The proposed city is meant to protect and educate philosophical natures. Socrates also allows that a few philosophers survive in existing cities, despite their hostile surroundings (Book VI, 496a–e). The education Plato proposes is rigorous and prolonged. Future rulers would study mathematics, astronomy, and harmonics before advancing to dialectic: the art of philosophical reasoning. At fifty, after advanced study and fifteen years of military and civic service, those who have passed the tests reach the final stage of education and take turns governing by their knowledge of the Good (539e–540b). Even then, they would rule reluctantly, preferring contemplation to power, governing only because the city needs them.