Platos The Philosopher Ruler Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Platos The Philosopher Ruler - Essay Example In some ways, too, Pericles' account of his democracy can also be seen as ideal. On certain subjects, therefore, concerning the types or descriptions of government and heroic men advocated in these two works, while some amount of concurrence can be seen between them, some differences can also be detected. Close attention to the texts of both works give the idea, of an underlying unity, though they do represent differing (i.e. ethereal vs. corporeal) levels of a similar idea. One of the first ideas presented in "The Philosopher Ruler" is one that describes citizens as courageous warriors who would under no inducement desert their positions in battle. This seems an appropriate beginning when one considers the circumstances for which persons are gathered in "Pericles' Funeral Oration." The deaths being mourned are those of warriors who have seemingly embodied the virtue being lauded here in Plato's description of the ideal citizens. The men have demonstrated the ultimate courage and have died in the service of their country, proving themselves to be true patriots of the order described by Plato. Yet Plato seems to be concerned with more than just these expressions of courage. In fact, as Schofield (1999) writes, "What Plato is interested in is justice and moral excellence and the question of the unity or complexity of the human mind" (p. 4). He describes an excellence that lies far beyond the physical and which expresses an ideal. In Plato's record of the dialectic between Socarates and Glaucon, one finds Glaucon inquiring whether or not ideals can or have ever been fully expressed in the actual. He wonders whether persons have ever truly been what they have been said to be. He says, "Is it not the nature of things that, whatever people think, practice should come less close to truth than theory" (Plato, 1952, p. 262). This question appears particularly pertinent in view of the type of oration being given by Pericles. This speech attempts to show forth (among other things) the works and characters of the men who fought and died for their state. Pericles seems to express a similar idea, yet one that is (paradoxically) opposite to that expressed by Glaucon. While Glaucon argues from the point of the ideal-wondering whether language or even the real occurrences on earth have ever been shown to express it precisely, Pericles worries that language itself might fall short in expressing the actual. He says, "It would be enough, I think, for their goodness to be proclaimed in action" (Thucydides, 1972, p. 144) as he expresses concern at being able to accurately speak on it. Therefore, while Pericles considers the exploits of the heroes as possessing ideal qualities that may not be utterable, Glaucon contends that such exploits (being expressions of the actual) could never attain the heights of the ideal. While Socrates and Glaucon appear to praise the virtues of the intellect as ones that are indispensable to the constitution of a ruler, one finds that they also describe physical attributes and training as desirable qualities for a leader to possess. They mention the grooming of youths who have distinguished themselves in attention to philosophy taught them in their youth, and who have also distinguished themselves in the physical aspects of training as well. Hanson and Heath support