Filozofija i drustvo 2012 Volume 23, Issue 3, Pages: 388-406
https://doi.org/10.2298/FID1203388N
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The philosopher in Plato’s state
Nikitović Aleksandar (Institut za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju, Beograd)
Plato’s political theory rests on metaphysical principles that are
understandable to only a few. It is assumed that only a narrow group of
philosophers is able to put this theory into practice, and using repressive
measures. The fewer the initiated the greater the repression. It is assumed
that those who do not know the truth can neither predict their destiny nor do
anything to make it better because they are unable to understand the goal and
purpose of the repression. It is demonstrated that, in the imagined use of
force, the sophists, who do acknowledge it, resort to repression to a much
lesser extent than Plato’s philosopher. At first, Plato’s philosopher rejects
the use of force as virtue, but it turns out to be indispensible, and in
incomparably more aspects than it was in the sophists’ case.
Keywords: philosopher, state, politics, repression, tradition, theory of ideas
Projekat
Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 179049