Posted on 12/12/2019 11:03:57 AM PST by Perseverando
Plato was a Greek philosopher who lived in the city-state of Athens.
In 380 BC, Plato wrote The Republic, where he described in Books 8 and 9:
"States are as the men are; they grow out of human characters."
"Like State, like man."
The Republic is written as a collection of conversations of Plato's teacher Socrates.
It gives insights into human behavior which is amazingly similar to today.
Plato described government going through FIVE STAGES:
"The constitutions of States are five."
The FIVE STAGES are:
"We count as one Royal and Aristocratical ..."
followed by
Timocratical, Oligarchical, Democratical, Tyrannical.
Plato's FIRST stage was called "Royal" or "Aristocracy ... whom we rightly call just and good."
This is a government led by hard-working, virtuous LOVERS OF "TRUTH" and "WISDOM."
These are responsible individuals who know how to successfully run businesses, farms, and entrepreneurial enterprises, leaving them ideally equipped with the skills to successfully run a city government.
"A ruler considers ... always what is for the interest of his subject ... and that alone he considers in everything which he says and does."
The SECOND stage Plato called "Timocracy."
This was a government run by LOVERS OF "HONOR" and "FAME."
Plato wrote:
"Now what man answers to this form of government ...
He is a ... lover of honor; claiming to be a ruler ...
Busy-bodies are honored and applauded."
These may include a popular actor from the Greek theater; or a popular musician or singer; or a famous Greek Olympic athlete; or a courageous military hero; or just a political busy-body craving attention.
Their intense desire for honor and fame leaves them susceptible to being swayed either by praise and flattery on one side, or the fear of ridicule
(Excerpt) Read more at myemail.constantcontact.com ...
Our $23 trillion national debt (and even larger unfunded liabilities) comes to mind.
bkmk
Plato is the father of collectivism in the West. He is the first thinker to formulate a systematic view of reality with a collectivist politics as its culmination. The individual should serve the group. The primacy of the group means that the omnipotent state follows as a matter of course. The program of the domination of the state over the individual is a blueprint for the totalitarian ideal. The rulers of the state should be an elite with special knowledge.
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