2007-08-19 08:51:49 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Plato certainly thought good philosophers would rule well.
Today government is largely fueled by money, pacs, and sound bites. All are in contrast to what makes good government.
Modern government is theater; show business. There are some exceptions. I am not aware of a contemporary philosopher who would be a good politician.
However, if you went back a little while I think Betrand Russell and Mortimer Adler would have been effective in government. Our current U.S. president's lack of ethics and character show the dangers of people in office just to win, without a moral or philsophical copass. He might skim read, but Bush's general shallowness and indifference to ethics has produced much misery in America from Iraq to Katrina, and in his efforts to set himself up with dictatorial power in the Patriot Act. I believe, persons, such as Russell and Adler, would not have responded so recklessly and uncareingly, because they had a real ethical perspective. Bush's compassionate conservatism was just the foundation of a card of lies that he manipulated for power--at the expense of innocent people, whether in Louisiana or Iraq.
Going backing Thomas Jefferson and Frederick the Great wrote much good philosophy, and were excellent rulers. Our Founding Fathers who wrote our great Constitution were very well grounded in philosophy.
A person needs to have a philosophy or he is danger of not being principled enough to properly serve the public. Numerous figures through the ages, such as Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Voltaire, William James, and others would have been good as leaders. They would have the intelligence to seek quality people to assist them, and by their interest that mankind be better, probably would have been more likely to achieve this than a politician, who just wants power and believes my way or the highway.
2007-08-19 10:55:51 · answer #1 · answered by Rev. Dr. Glen 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't really think so. In fact I suspect that too MANY politicians are philosophers. That may be part of the
problem. I think an Engineer would make a good
politician. Get Er Done!
2007-08-20 02:59:48 · answer #2 · answered by nutsfornouveau 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
depends on the philosopher. Mostly philosophers are good counsels, not politicians. Politicians have to be pragmatic to be effective. Ideals don't always make for good policy.
2007-08-19 09:53:54 · answer #3 · answered by ikiraf 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Depends on how they look at ethics and situations. Any philosopher from Bentham, Locke, Hume, and Hobbes would be my favorites. Socrates tried to get political but that did not work out well for him. I seriously think that Thomas Jefferson was a philosopher in a unique way from his admiration of John Locke. Depends on several variables.
2007-08-19 09:02:27 · answer #4 · answered by Mr. Fancy Pants 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
All politicians ARE philosophers. All philosophers at the instant are not politicians. each flesh presser could talk philosophy. Becuase it particularly is one concern which will confuse the objective audience. case in point..... "you're That" is without doubt one in all the superb philosophical statements of all time. ( you're what you're searching for) A clever flesh presser makes use of this so casually , twisting the which skill. you're that .. that which makes or breaks the king, he will say. he will say you have the means to unharness.... massive massive words.
2016-10-16 03:42:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think a philosopher would make a good adviser to the president, but I am not sure he will be good as the commander in chief. You have to deal with alot of unsavory characters that definitely don't pay attention to philosophy when you become president.
2007-08-19 11:56:52 · answer #6 · answered by Magic Mouse 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, Plato said we should have a dictatorial state lead by philosophers. I don't know that its the best way to go, but shouldn't we be stepping in the direction of having more intelligent leaders?
2007-08-19 09:12:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It would depend on the philosopher's view of the world!!! Many people have many different philosophies!!!
Good luck and may God bless you.
2007-08-19 09:10:17 · answer #8 · answered by kathleen m 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but how would you persuade him to run?
Fact is, the best person to be president would be someone who did not want the job, did not campaign, but was chosen just because so very many people believed he could do the job well.
And what are our odds of ever doing it that way?
2007-08-19 14:24:22 · answer #9 · answered by auntb93 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No! to many have tried and it brought sadness, devastation
and loss of lives...let them be content to be the fool on the hill.
2007-08-20 05:33:08 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋