Philosophy
Kyler M. Robinson
Socrates breaks governments into five distinct categories: aristocracy, timocracy, oligarchy, democracy and tyranny. Government is not a stagnate phenomenon that remains strictly to one of these categories; they move back and forth through the various types of governments as the values of one slowly digress into another. In book VIII ?Socrates sketches the outlines of a political science?[1] that, while being based on a perfect model city that cannot exist, can still be applied to compare current administrations and governments to the ideal one. In the modern world perhaps there is no better government to examine as the United States of America, the most powerful country in the world.
While Socrates would best be placed in the category of an aristocratic man, having a passionate pursuit of knowledge for knowledge sake, and in many ways that?s what is reflected in his perfect city: the aristocracy of the guardians. It seems clear however, from the insulation of government from the people initially that the Founding Fathers could fall into this category at times. The insulation can be seen with the creation of the constitution where all members were sworn to secrecy and the insulation of the senate to be elected not by a state?s people, but rather their elected state legislation. But it seems that even these men could balance other regimes into their creation of the United States.
Democracy ?is probably the fairest of the regimes,? states Socrates, ?Just like a many-colored cloak decorated in all hues, this regime, decorated with all dispositions, would also look fairest.?[2] However it is the lead by the masses thus and the ?regime?s sympathy and total lack of pettiness in despising what we were so saying so solemnly when we were founding the city.?[3] This seems to be a strong component in modern politics where democracy is playing a large roll to persuade the public for support of a particular politicians agenda for either election or passing a bill. While it does look to be the best regime in that ?it contains all species of regimes, and it is probably necessary for the man who wishes to organize a city.?[4]
Democracy, which dispenses ?a certain equality to equals and unequals alike,? assumes that everyone has the ability to rule while indeed it is not the case. As with a ship it is necessary to have a skilled pilot to steer the rest of the sailors. Yet it seems that democracy is not the only regime that prevails today. Oligarchy has a significant influence in the world market as globalization and trade influences the decisions of governments.
Allen Bloom rightly states why oligarchy is so appealing and important. He describes the reason that it is so important as ?It is no accident that in the list of regimes the central one is oligarchy, for in its pursuit of money, it incarnates the concern of the real city.?[5] Money and the economy are transcendent health indicators of a nation or market. It is therefore little surprise that in the wealthiest nation in the world we value it so greatly.
Democracy and oligarchy are the two regimes that have fused together to dictate our society. Each set of values is critical to our government and also critical to the way that the United States citizens view their world. While it is clear that neither is perfect, they seem to be a relatively stabile and beneficial model in comparison to all other current regimes that are in practice. Perhaps the best component of democracy is that it allows a broad range of ideas to be expressed that, if the leaders are capable, will guide the country.
[1] Allen Bloom ?Interpretive Essay? pg 414
[2] 557c
[3] 558b
[4] 557d
[5] Allen Bloom ?Interpretive Essay? pg 420
- Democracy, (oligarchy), Tyranny And The Economy
Kyler M. Robinson The tyrannical man in the United States can be found everywhere. It lives in all of us, our desires that drive us past reason and logic, relying on the craving and eros. The desires of the tyrannical man seemingly mix with the...
- The Sinking Ship
The allegory in Book IX of the tyrannical man being a direct descendant of his democratic father is an example that can be seen in many present-day and historical figures of government. An important and pertinent story to fill this analogy is the current...
- The Inevitable Cycle
Nick LaClair The Republic of Plato establishes a solid formation of the five types of government discovered by Socrates, Glaucon, and Adeimentus. The five types begin with aristocracy, timocracy, oligarchy, democracy, and then ending with tyranny. These...
- Opulent Wealth Alongside Blissful Ignorance Of The Capitalist Illusion
In a discussion of the future of the city they have just created, Socrates, Glaucon and Adeimantus turn to a discussion of the future of the city. In this city, Socrates claims, the current guardians that they have chosen will eventually have to choose...
- Where Does The United States Stand?
October 30, 2005 Book VIII According to Plato there are five different kinds of governments and they go through a cycle from aristocracy to timocracy then oligarchy then democracy and finally tyranny. He thinks aristocracy is the best kind of government,...
Philosophy
America the Beautiful
Kyler M. Robinson
Socrates breaks governments into five distinct categories: aristocracy, timocracy, oligarchy, democracy and tyranny. Government is not a stagnate phenomenon that remains strictly to one of these categories; they move back and forth through the various types of governments as the values of one slowly digress into another. In book VIII ?Socrates sketches the outlines of a political science?[1] that, while being based on a perfect model city that cannot exist, can still be applied to compare current administrations and governments to the ideal one. In the modern world perhaps there is no better government to examine as the United States of America, the most powerful country in the world.
While Socrates would best be placed in the category of an aristocratic man, having a passionate pursuit of knowledge for knowledge sake, and in many ways that?s what is reflected in his perfect city: the aristocracy of the guardians. It seems clear however, from the insulation of government from the people initially that the Founding Fathers could fall into this category at times. The insulation can be seen with the creation of the constitution where all members were sworn to secrecy and the insulation of the senate to be elected not by a state?s people, but rather their elected state legislation. But it seems that even these men could balance other regimes into their creation of the United States.
Democracy ?is probably the fairest of the regimes,? states Socrates, ?Just like a many-colored cloak decorated in all hues, this regime, decorated with all dispositions, would also look fairest.?[2] However it is the lead by the masses thus and the ?regime?s sympathy and total lack of pettiness in despising what we were so saying so solemnly when we were founding the city.?[3] This seems to be a strong component in modern politics where democracy is playing a large roll to persuade the public for support of a particular politicians agenda for either election or passing a bill. While it does look to be the best regime in that ?it contains all species of regimes, and it is probably necessary for the man who wishes to organize a city.?[4]
Democracy, which dispenses ?a certain equality to equals and unequals alike,? assumes that everyone has the ability to rule while indeed it is not the case. As with a ship it is necessary to have a skilled pilot to steer the rest of the sailors. Yet it seems that democracy is not the only regime that prevails today. Oligarchy has a significant influence in the world market as globalization and trade influences the decisions of governments.
Allen Bloom rightly states why oligarchy is so appealing and important. He describes the reason that it is so important as ?It is no accident that in the list of regimes the central one is oligarchy, for in its pursuit of money, it incarnates the concern of the real city.?[5] Money and the economy are transcendent health indicators of a nation or market. It is therefore little surprise that in the wealthiest nation in the world we value it so greatly.
Democracy and oligarchy are the two regimes that have fused together to dictate our society. Each set of values is critical to our government and also critical to the way that the United States citizens view their world. While it is clear that neither is perfect, they seem to be a relatively stabile and beneficial model in comparison to all other current regimes that are in practice. Perhaps the best component of democracy is that it allows a broad range of ideas to be expressed that, if the leaders are capable, will guide the country.
[1] Allen Bloom ?Interpretive Essay? pg 414
[2] 557c
[3] 558b
[4] 557d
[5] Allen Bloom ?Interpretive Essay? pg 420
- Democracy, (oligarchy), Tyranny And The Economy
Kyler M. Robinson The tyrannical man in the United States can be found everywhere. It lives in all of us, our desires that drive us past reason and logic, relying on the craving and eros. The desires of the tyrannical man seemingly mix with the...
- The Sinking Ship
The allegory in Book IX of the tyrannical man being a direct descendant of his democratic father is an example that can be seen in many present-day and historical figures of government. An important and pertinent story to fill this analogy is the current...
- The Inevitable Cycle
Nick LaClair The Republic of Plato establishes a solid formation of the five types of government discovered by Socrates, Glaucon, and Adeimentus. The five types begin with aristocracy, timocracy, oligarchy, democracy, and then ending with tyranny. These...
- Opulent Wealth Alongside Blissful Ignorance Of The Capitalist Illusion
In a discussion of the future of the city they have just created, Socrates, Glaucon and Adeimantus turn to a discussion of the future of the city. In this city, Socrates claims, the current guardians that they have chosen will eventually have to choose...
- Where Does The United States Stand?
October 30, 2005 Book VIII According to Plato there are five different kinds of governments and they go through a cycle from aristocracy to timocracy then oligarchy then democracy and finally tyranny. He thinks aristocracy is the best kind of government,...