Reference no: EM133432564

Question

The readings from Plato point to several debatable conclusions. What, in Plato's view, qualifies some persons (whom he elsewhere designates "the Guardians") to rule over others? What traits distinguish these Guardians compared to others? What does Plato mean when he talks about philosophical truth, and how might this knowledge enable the "philosopher king" to rule wisely and well? Or does it? Is the argument Plato advances just an elegant if long-winded rephrasing of an ages-old complaint from intellectuals: "Why isn't anyone listening to me?" Finally, Plato argues against democracy by suggesting that its emphasis upon equality leads to a coarsening and dumbing down of politics and public life more generally. Indeed, he foresees a situation in which "the master fears and flatters his students, and the students despise their masters and tutors; and in general, young and old are alike, and the young man is on a level with the old . . . and the old men condescend to the young," even adopting their manners (in current-day terms, middle-age men growing ponytails and getting really rad tats comes to mind). Do you think he has a point? And if so, is this really a problem? Why or why not?