(February 3, 2018 at 10:50 am)Wololo Wrote: The problem with Plato's system is that any elitist system degenerates into a hereditary system very quickly. Yes the first set of rulers will be a true elite (for the sake of this argument) but what happens two or three generations down the line when their descendants, brought up in the luxury of the ruling class and turn out on testing not to be up to the standard?
Plato doesn't address this problem, he ignores it. He believes the self perpuating elite would voluntarily give up its position and privilege rather than what every elite has done through history and perpetuate their position they enjoy.
My opinion of the perfect illustration of the eventual outcome is the view given of the Inner Party in Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Oh yeah man, if you read Book II of the Republic, it's 1984 from the git-go. I'd rather live under Stalin than Plato. As a blueprint for a government, Plato's republic sucks. But I do think that examining the blueprint itself can disclose the value of leaders being guided by reason and knowledge. Plato is also anti-democracy. While I support democracy, I think Plato has provided some valuable insights as to its shortcomings. Those of us who live under democracy would be wise to pay attention to his criticisms.
But all-in-all, I have to agree with what you've said. The Republic is a solution that is worse than the problem it solves.
