Would philosophers make good presidents?

Question

Could the philosopher implement his plans or are most of the philosophical ideals to euphoric for implementation?

Answer 1

There are common misconeptions that philosophy is too idealistic. Frankly, though, if you look at the garbage 99% of the general public believe, philosophy makes a lot of sense in comparison. There is a fine line to be drawn when separating philosophy from other fields of study, since nearly every academic field involves philosophy to some degree. If anybody has ever studied philosophy, especially political and social philosophy, they would realize that the ideals articulated by philosophers (but maybe not necessarily developed by them) shape our world and the way we see it to an extreme degree today.

A philosopher that develops an idea which is, in fact, utopian or unworkable in practice is, to be honest, a sh*tty philosopher. I think the reason why the conclusions of philosophers are seen as being unrealsitic is that they are better at thinking things through than most people are. If you took what you believe now and followed those beliefs to their logical conclusions, I guarantee you that your conclusions would sound extreme to those who only held your beliefs but didn't think about them in detail.

So to answer your question, if they were a good philosopher, then they would make a good president (in the aspect of developing ideas, not necessarily in public image which unforunately plays such a large role in the modern prseidency). If they come up with "euphoric" ideas, which fail in practice, then they are not a good philosopher to begin with. :)

Answer 2

Plato thought so.

Of course we have not had a philosophical king in how many years since?

Nah, too euphoric.

Strangely enough, the experiment that proved it was communism. Karl Marx was a philosopher. A new form of government was created based on his principles. It didn't work. It just created a new form of dictator. The people's republic never happened.

It never can. Philosopher's deal with ideas, not human emotions, thought, and needs.

A government run by Philosophers simply will not work. It would be undermined instantly.

My apologies to Plato, but no, it does not work.

Answer 3

Philosophy is a way of thinking typically through the use of logic. So a pro would be that a president who is a philosopher may have very well thought out ideas or conceptual reasoning for their plan of action. Unfortunately, being a president entails more than just having great, well thought out ideas; it also entails having the political savvy to work the political system to have your plans implemented as effectively as possible. Obama maybe a good example of this. Obama has grandiose ideas such as the health care reform but lacks the political savvy and influence to get consensus in congress and across america which could lead to significant compromises on his plans or outright failure.

Answer 4

Probably not because they spend too much time trying to see all the possible ramifications of a particular problem, and are usually dealing with the ideal instead of reality. To effectively govern it would seem to me that the individual must in fact be based in the reality of life, willing to compromise, something a philosopher would not do. As previously alluded it is also necessary to make decisions now, not to decide the moral issue of nuclear retaliation as the first strike comes in on your head.

Answer 5

Yes. See Plato's prescription for a philosopher king.

Also, authority is fundamentally rational (not personal or positional) and based on insight into the nature of the real. Philosophy is the discipline that affirms the use of reason to know the real.

Answer 6

Philosophers would not make good presidents. For a philosopher the important part is not finding, but searching. I think that mathematicians would make good presidents because they are consistent and they will follow steps to find answers and not rely on their emotions or feelings

Answer 7

unfortunately philosophers would not do good as presidents, most of the ideas are not conducive to real life, in an Utopian state if we all could achieve some sort of enlightenment maybe, but there are to many lazy and stupid people out there to make the philosophical ideas usable in society.

Answer 8

Agreeing with Aristotle, I would have to say that Philosophers would make great advisers to Presidents and if a candidate for office happened to be a Philosophy graduate, I'd vote for him, depending on his ideas for the future.

Answer 9

Actually, the very best as Sir Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan of India. Remember Plato's idea of 'philosopher king'?

Answer 10

I don't believe a philosopher would start any wars, but would definitely not use the military when justified.