Just read "The Republic." Does anyone else think the "great" greek philosopher would have gotton on well with the likes of Hitler and Stalin?
2006-11-15 02:36:13 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
exactly.... and that's not only Hitler and Stalin my friend... u can cal on many religious leaders and politicians throughout history who used Plato's idea of "one wise leader to have perfect society" to explain their power.
ps. protofascist? no is much deeper.... its the roooooot!
2006-11-15 02:46:48 · answer #1 · answered by Maziar 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Keep in mind that the Republic is also an analogy for the human psyche. In a wise person, the rational faculty controls and directs the lower faculties towards the good life just as the "guardians" do in Plato's Republic.
2006-11-15 15:06:05 · answer #2 · answered by Blaargh_42 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A lot of old philosophers believed in an autocratic society. Thomas Hobbes specifically said that man is barbaric and selfish and can only be ruled by a powerful government that forces him to do as told. However, such philosophers also believe that a ruler must be just; they would never approve of the likes of such tyrants.
2006-11-15 10:40:27 · answer #3 · answered by Yakka 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Republic more than on the theme of politics and Government works the idea of education.
I not only recommend you to read it again. But also read another of his books "The laws".
You can only expect a thinker to think according to his times, do not expect him to think like someone with standards or moral values way beyond his time.
2006-11-15 10:44:09 · answer #4 · answered by sofista 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Plato was a spoiled snob with contempt for humanity, more proof that people must be cut off from their parents at age 18 and aristocracy must be abolished. This homosexual know-it-all was no wiser than Dumbo Dubya; he just was better at making fascist gibberish sound like a rational policy.
2006-11-15 11:12:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋