Plato IntelligenceEssays on Plato

Politics

Politics

The just city, the philosopher king, and Plato's quarrel with democracy.

Plato watched a democracy execute the best man he knew, and never forgave it. Out of that came the most provocative proposal in political philosophy — the philosopher king — along with a critique of democracy that reads uncomfortably well, and the noble lie, an idea politics has never stopped using.

The essays here work through the just city argument by argument, and ask which of Plato's warnings we are currently ignoring.

20 essays, listed alphabetically.

A Roundup of Plato’s Most Notable Works971 w
How Plato’s Philosophy Shaped Political Thinking874 w
How to Implement Plato’s Political Ideas Today1,073 w
Plato’s “Philosopher-King” in Contemporary Leadership Theory409 w
Plato’s Concept of the “Noble Lie” in Modern Political Discourse612 w
Plato’s Critiques of Democracy: Lessons for st-Century Governance852 w
Plato’s Crito: Obligation to the State in Modern Civil Disobedience331 w
Plato’s Laws vs. Republic: Evolution of His Political Vision747 w
Plato’s Political Impact: A Historical Analysis962 w
Plato’s Statesman: The Art of Governance in Complex Societies311 w
Review of Plato’s Influence on Political Thought966 w
Reviewing Plato’s Theory of Forms: A Critical Analysis1,048 w
Roundup: Political Themes in Plato’s Philosophy1,047 w
Top 10 Influential Ideas in Plato’s Philosophy993 w
Top 10 Political Concepts in Plato’s Philosophy883 w
What are the Key Principles of the Philosopher King868 w
What Impact Did Plato Have on Political Theory?1,034 w
What Makes Plato’s Political Philosophy Timeless?1,014 w
Why Plato’s Political Ideas Are Relevant Today995 w
Why Plato’s Political Philosophy Still Matters981 w