Sunday, October 14, 2012

Philosophers are Kings

The society we have described can never grow into a reality or see the light of day, and there will be no end to the troubles of states, or indeed, my dear Glaucon, of humanity itself, till philosophers are kings in this world, or till those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers, and political power and philosophy thus come into the same hands, while the many natures now content to follow either to the exclusion of the other are forcibly debarred from doing so. This is what I have hesitated to say so long, knowing what a paradox it would sound; for it is not easy to see that there is no other road to happiness, either for society or the individual. (Plato, Republic)

It dawned on me just this morning that it is not about kings taking a community course in philosophy but rather we, the people - the true sovereigns of this world taking the path of loving wisdom and gaining the good life in the process.
Rather simple really.