Who would you prefer to fly the plane you're on: a pilot or a janitor? Why?

Who would you prefer to run your society: a political specialist or anyone who wants to?

Plato compares the state to an elaborate and expensive ship. A ship, to accomplish a safe and successful journey, needs an expert navigator at the helm, a captain who knows the capacities of the vessel, geography, meteorology, water currents, navigational astronomy, supplies management, and other related matters. An ignorant and untrained person at the helm of a ship would endanger vessel, cargo, crew, and passengers alike.

Similarly, Plato suggests, the ship of state needs expert governors at the helm, governors who are well informed about such things as law, economics, sociology, military strategy, history, and other relevant subjects. Ignorant and incompetent governors can be and have been disasters for citizens and states.

1. Ruling is a skill.

2. It is rational to leave the exercise of skills to experts

3. In a democracy the people rule.

4. The people are not experts.

Therefore:

5. Democracy is irrational and therefore stupid.

Plato put his argument this way:

Democracy at its worst is the tyranny of the majority over the minority (ie. majority rules)

Some typical arguments that are used against Democracy; some of them are Plato's:

Democracy is more emotion driven than reason driven.

Democracy is potentially the most corrupt system. The emphasis could be solely on

winning votes at whatever cost.

Democracy is unstable and lacks consistency.

Democracy lacks the ability to innovate because it tends to default to a middle position

(ie. a compromise)

Democratic leaders will seek popularity above statesmanship, public accord over balanced

administration.

These leaders have to pander to the people rather than do what they think is right.

Therefore, it is easier to give things to the people in democratic societies rather than ask

them for sacrifice.

Democratic leaders will tend to focus on short-term goals, rather than the best course of action for the long term (think: the environment). After all, problems that are generations away will rarely figure with the masses in the upcoming election.

A philosopher is the ideal ruler of a state, according to Plato. He wanted philosopher kings

Why would he think this?

First we need to know what philosophy is and who is a

philosopher.

PHILOSOPHY

The term philosophy literally means “the love of wisdom” In Greek:

philia = dispassionate, virtuous love; desire/enjoyment for an activity

sophia= holy wisdom

To love something does not mean to possess it but to focus our life on it. Socrates made the term philosopher famous. He said that the philosopher was one who had a passion for wisdom and who was intoxicated by this love

Philosophy is the love and pursuit of wisdom

So, like Plato said, a philosopher is the ideal ruler of a state. He

wanted philosopher kings.

In The Republic, Plato describes the five forms of government from best to worse and argues that the ideal state is aristocratic. The five forms of government are:

1. Aristocracy2. Timocracy3. Oligarchy4. Democracy5. Tyranny

Aristocracy – this is the best form of government, according to Plato, in which the ruler is a philosopher, someone whose soul has been educated through the contemplation of arts and the exercise of the mind. Having studied philosophy, this ruler would know the true virtues and, therefore, he would be able to lead people towards wellness and prosperity. Since the ruler would be virtuous, he would not want to deceive and abuse the citizens.

Timocracy – this is the form of government ruled by warriors in which all the political decisions aim to bring military power and status. Timocrats may seek virtues just as the aristocrats, but they also pursue power, which can lead them to wars and combats. Timocracy, according to Plato, is a kind of government that arises when aristocracy starts to degenerate and fall apart.

Oligarchy – this is the system of government that establishes a division between the rich and the poor. The rich ones, which are fewer, rule and the poor must follow. This, according to Plato, is a problem because rich people are not necessarily virtuous, and when the power is in the hands of non-virtuous people, the rich will attempt to become richer and the poor might become even poorer due to bad policy, generating revolutions.

Democracy – according to Plato, democracy is the child of oligarchy. Since people cannot agree with the rich ruling and deceiving the poor, people start to believe that if they could choose the ruler, their interest would prevail. The poor are greater in numbers so they elect one of them to be in charge. However, since the masses aren't educated to become virtuous or to exercise the intellect, they are not able to make the right political decisions that suit their needs.

Tyranny – according to Plato, democracy naturally degenerates into tyranny and society becomes total chaos in which there's no rule, no priorities and no laws. Whoever is stronger takes charge and does as he pleases. Nobody is able to remove a tyrant man from the power, as there's no law to be obeyed.

We are often told through the media, through books, by teachers and parents, that democracy is the ideal form of government. Do you agree with Plato's criticism of democracy?

Your homework. Answer one of the following questions:

1) What, in your opinion, is the ideal form of government for human beings? Consider the following questions:

-Which type of government creates happiness for the most people?-Which type of government creates the most security and safety for people?-Which type of government provides the most justice (fairness)?-In which society could most people get an education, get rich, and live long?

2) “CMIS is not a democracy and should never be one. To be the best school in Chiang Mai, CMIS should always be run as an aristocracy or oligarchy. Students should not play a roll in decision making.” Make an argument to support this claim. Provide examples/analogies to support your position (ie. classroom rules, homework policy, student rights...etc). Think about what Plato would say and take his position.