Wave after Wave
(A Discussion of the Three Controversial Waves in Plato’s, Republic) Influential and powerful thinkers nearly always bring radical concepts to discussion previously viewed as incomprehensible. Their ability to challenge the boundaries of the world around them in the aspiration to make a better world is what sets these great philosophers apart from the ordinary citizen. No exception to this concept is Socrates. In Plato’s dialogue, Republic V, Socrates brings forth some radical new ideas when explaining how an impossible, yet ideal society would be run. The most critical aspects to the ideal society of Socrates, is the presence of women, foundations to eugenics, and new principles of leadership. In Plato’s, Republic V, Socrates’ …show more content…
In order to create the most perfect society, men and women must communally raise all children as their own, and engage in monitored mating with those in their class. Socrates tells, “These women are to be all common to all these men; no one must have a private wife of his own, and the children must be common too, and the parents shall not know the child nor the child its parent,” (298). This would be accomplished through a “random” lottery based mating ritual. However, the optimal genetic combination would be predetermined. “Plato calls a ‘some one noble lie,’; for the lottery is to be rigged by the breeding committee. Everyone will actually draw the name designated for them; and those who draw a blank were simply thought undesirable for offspring,” (Hayduck) The end goal of this project is to create a perfect society in which people are born into a certain job and class, but raised by a community, not parents. “Once born, the children will be taken away to a rearing pen to be taken care of by nurses and the parents will not be allowed to know who their own children are (460c-d). This is so that the parents think of all the children as their own,” (Coumoundouros).” As children grew into their predestined class, they would see the entire community as their family and would contribute to a single, harmonious …show more content…
Socrates goes to say this has never been done in the history of mankind, and will likely never occur, as philosophers are regarded as the least qualified to rule. He claims however, that this makes them in fact, the most qualified. “The philosophers must become kings in our cities,” (318). The overall ruler of a perfect society must have no desire for power, only wisdom to make the world a more perfect place. “...the philosopher is the only person who can be trusted to rule well. Philosophers are both morally and intellectually suited to rule: morally because it is in their nature to love truth and learning so much that they are free from the greed and lust that tempts others to abuse power and intellectually because they alone can gain full knowledge of reality,” (Lane). Without the greed that leads to corruption, only a philosopher could be the most wise and true leaders of an ideal
(A Discussion of the Three Controversial Waves in Plato’s, Republic) Influential and powerful thinkers nearly always bring radical concepts to discussion previously viewed as incomprehensible. Their ability to challenge the boundaries of the world around them in the aspiration to make a better world is what sets these great philosophers apart from the ordinary citizen. No exception to this concept is Socrates. In Plato’s dialogue, Republic V, Socrates brings forth some radical new ideas when explaining how an impossible, yet ideal society would be run. The most critical aspects to the ideal society of Socrates, is the presence of women, foundations to eugenics, and new principles of leadership. In Plato’s, Republic V, Socrates’ …show more content…
In order to create the most perfect society, men and women must communally raise all children as their own, and engage in monitored mating with those in their class. Socrates tells, “These women are to be all common to all these men; no one must have a private wife of his own, and the children must be common too, and the parents shall not know the child nor the child its parent,” (298). This would be accomplished through a “random” lottery based mating ritual. However, the optimal genetic combination would be predetermined. “Plato calls a ‘some one noble lie,’; for the lottery is to be rigged by the breeding committee. Everyone will actually draw the name designated for them; and those who draw a blank were simply thought undesirable for offspring,” (Hayduck) The end goal of this project is to create a perfect society in which people are born into a certain job and class, but raised by a community, not parents. “Once born, the children will be taken away to a rearing pen to be taken care of by nurses and the parents will not be allowed to know who their own children are (460c-d). This is so that the parents think of all the children as their own,” (Coumoundouros).” As children grew into their predestined class, they would see the entire community as their family and would contribute to a single, harmonious …show more content…
Socrates goes to say this has never been done in the history of mankind, and will likely never occur, as philosophers are regarded as the least qualified to rule. He claims however, that this makes them in fact, the most qualified. “The philosophers must become kings in our cities,” (318). The overall ruler of a perfect society must have no desire for power, only wisdom to make the world a more perfect place. “...the philosopher is the only person who can be trusted to rule well. Philosophers are both morally and intellectually suited to rule: morally because it is in their nature to love truth and learning so much that they are free from the greed and lust that tempts others to abuse power and intellectually because they alone can gain full knowledge of reality,” (Lane). Without the greed that leads to corruption, only a philosopher could be the most wise and true leaders of an ideal