Deconversion and some doubts

[vulcanlogician]

In Phaedrus, Plato likens the human soul to a chariot with three parts: two horses and a charioteer. One horse is stubborn and disobedient. This horse is desire. The other horse is dutiful and responsive. This second horse is emotion. The third part... the weakest and smallest part... is reason/logic, the charioteer. We need our desire and emotion to carry us forward in our lives. The charioteer cannot pull the chariot, right? But also, we need to be mindful that these spirited beasts have no business steering the chariot. Reason needs to be in charge of steering the chariot this way or that. Emotion and desire ought to do nothing but pull the chariot forward. But, alas, Plato diagnoses most souls as being steered by desire or emotion. Only a special few souls are reasonable. It is these souls who are truly capable of living righteously. That is how the Good "works inwardly in the soul." 

I wonder if it's a bit misleading to stop the myth here. Though I understand this version will be more popular on this forum.

In the original, the chariot isn't aiming for a nice balanced life. It's aiming to look above, to the world of Forms. Exactly the place where the Good is "located." If you do a good job and guide your horses, you get a longer look at the Forms. A good life results from direct vision of the Forms, including the Good. The result will be a good life -- the best life being, of course, that of a philosopher -- but this good life comes as a result of a vision of the Forms.

I disagree with Plato that the "best" life is that of a philosopher. Even though, that is the life to which I myself am hopelessly predisposed. That would be too convenient a truth. I rather like the way I've put the myth here. I think I said what Plato was trying to say in Phaedrus (and the Republic). I might have left out that the "goal" of the chariot's journey is to arrive at the Forms. But who cares? I like to say that the chariot ascends to a good vantagepoint, by being reasonable. 

I don't think I have to hit every one of Plato's notes to communicate his harmony adequately. To say it super precisely, I'd lose some folks along the way. I kind of like the way I put it, tbh. If people want more, I've given them the source material too. So they can learn all about the allegory of the chariot if they wish.

Isn't the key thing, though, that reason ought to steer the soul?