Philosophers desire to know
Knowledge of is of what is in an
unqualified sense. It is about what is
permanent and real
belief or opinion is about what is part real,
what is constantly varying, imperfect,
qualified.
Why suppose philosophers make
better rulers?
Just as a painter can make good likeness if
they see what they are supposed to be
painting, so a ruler can make a city just,
only if the ruler knows what justice is.
If you rule on the basis of belief, you are like
a painter painting a mountain, who has
never seen a mountain.
Cf. 484c-d
Socrates also explicitly connects the
philosophical nature to the virtues.
People who love knowledge will have their
desires channeled into learning, and not
be intemperate.
They will not overvalue life– they will be
courageous.
Since they don’t love money, they won’t be
unjust.
Adeimantus’ objection
Its hard to argue against you Socrates, but
most people when they hear you speak
will think you must have tricked them.
Look around you, see the people who
actually are philosophers. The best are
useless, and most are cranks or
“completely bad.”
Why the best philosophers are
useless: the simile of the ship
Imagine a ship with an owner who is
almost deaf, almost blind, and does not
know much about seafaring.
Imagine also sailors, who quarrel will one
another to become captain.
The sailor who is best able to persuade
the owner to make them captain—this
person is called a navigator, a true
captain.
On the ship, “Navigation” is not the art of
piloting a ship, but the “art” of persuasion.
You are a good navigator, captain, if you
can get the ship owner to let you be
captain.
People who claim you need to know where
the north star is, or how to read charts and
weather—they are useless. They are not
made use of in the ship.
The ship is like the city
The ship owner is the people.
The sailors are politicians
The useless stargazers are the
philosophers.
The best philosophers are useless
because the city does not use them, not
because they don’t have useful
knowledge.
The simile of the ship and
democracy
The smile of the ship illustrates Plato’s
view of democracy. Instead of valuing
knowledge, democratic government’s
value persuasion. The ability to get
elected, or get policies passed by the
assembly of the people
But it is one thing to persuade someone,
another to actually know what is best.
Does The simile apply to
contemporary politics
Politicians poll people to decide what they
want, and then make policies suited to
those desires.
A good politician is someone who can
persuade, who can get elected.
Just like the pseudo captains in Socrates’
ship.