Plato
The Republic
“How can you train a Philosopher King?”
It will start with Mathematics (5 sorts: arithmetic, plane and solid geometry, astronomy and harmonics). These all deal with realities and not appearances.
Next stage is dialectic (from Greek dialegomai, I hold a conversation - hence dialogue) - which is philosophy proper. This takes him/her up to age 35.
Practical experience. The student now goes out into the real world ("down into the cave") for 15 years "to hold any military or other office suitable for the young (!)."
The Good. At the age of 50 those who have passed all the physical and intellectual tests
“must be made to lift their mind's eye to the source of all light, and see the Good itself, which they can take as a pattern for ordering their own life as well as that of the polis.”
The rest of their lives will be spent mainly in philosophy, but they will reluctantly serve their turn as rulers when they have to. And after their death - when they have trained their successors - they will be honoured as gods (or goddesses - we're reminded that they could well be female).Is this an idle dream or could it happen? Yes, but you'd have to start by getting rid of all citizens over the age of ten!
So much for the ideal polis! - but you promised to discuss bad communities. How about it? ![[Next Page?]](next.gif)