Q.3. Examine Plato's Rule of philosophy or Ideocracy or aristocracy of intellect.
Or,
State and criticise Plato's concept of the rule of Philosopher King.[M.U. 2011]
THE PHILLOSOPHER KING
Need and Value:
According to Plato," the numan race will not see better days until either the stock of those who rightly and genuinely follow philosophy acquire political authority, or else the class who have political control be led by some dispensation of providence to become real philosophers." Thus Plato believed that unless the administration of the state is entrusted in the hands of the philosopher king, peace and prosperity cannot be achieved. Only the rule of a philosopher bug can free the body politic from its defects.Plato said "Untill philosophers are Kings, or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy, and political greatness and wisdom meet in one, and those commoner natures who pursue either to the exclusion of the other are compelled to stand aside, cities will never rest from their evils. "Therefore, Plato planned a system of education which may give birth to philosopher kings. This idea was very much influenced by politics of Athens. Plato was against the democratic system of Government in Athens as it was the cause of the death of his teacher Socrates. Therefore he strongly maintained that the rulers should be selected not because of their popularity, but by their education and ability. A philosopher king is a repository of all human virtues. He is equally anxious to put them into practice to realise the social good.
Characteristics of Philosopher King
In brief philosopher king has the following characteristics :
1.Wise: Of the three classes in society the philosopher class represents wisdom. Therefore it stands in need of a particular type of education.
2. Communist : Plato prescribed communism of family and personal property for the philosophers so that they may live as members of the joint family free from the attachments of personal families.
3. Altruist: The philosopher king was absolutely altruistic. For him the good of the state was the highest good. This altruism was encouraged by communism of personal property and women.
4. Well educated: An able administrator should be a scholar of philosophy and a good politician. Therefore Plato devised a long system of education for the rulers which aimed at establishment of an oligarchy of philosophers. According to Zeller, "The platonic state can only be an aristocracy of virtue and intellect exercised by one or few."
5. Authoritarian: Plato entrusted absolute power in the hands of the philosopher king so much so that he can be termed as an authoritarian. And yet in order to curb authoritarianism he prescribed that the philosopher king should follow the following rules laid down in the constitution of the state:
(a) The rulers should extend the state only as much as necessary to keep it self-sufficient and unified, it should be neither bigger nor smaller.
(b) The ruler should not encourage too much prosperity or poverty in the state because this will lead to evolusion of two contrary classes who may conflict and increase instability in the state. Therefore the ruler should not allow too much imbalances in the increase or decrease of wealth.
(C) The ideal ruler should see that each citizen follows his duty and does not interfere in the performance of duties by the other people.
(d) The ruler should make no changes in the system of education prescribed in the state.
The following criticisms have been advanced against Plato's ideal of a philosopher king :
i) Impractical ideal: The ideal of alphilosopher king is far from being practical. Firstly, it is difficult to find al person equally conversant in philosophy, mathematics and social life. Plato aimed at precisely such a person. A philosopher king, in order to succeed, not only needs the knowledge of philosophy and mathematics as prescribed by Plato, but a sound knowledge of psychology, economics, law and political science.
ii) Sanction to authoritarian ruler: Plato's sanction to total power to the ruler tends to make him authoritarian. Accton was rightly said that power corrupts but absolutely power corrupts absolute. The restrictions prescribed by Plato to curb this authoritarianism were far from satisfactory.
iii)Lower status of the people: The provision unlimited power to the ruler will inevitably lead to a lower status of the peole who will be deprived even of the fundamental human rights.
iv) Distinction between philosophy and administration: The personality traits born due to philosophy are hinderances rather than help in the function of administration. Therefore, we can not hope that a philosopher will be a better administrator.
v)Absence of people's contribution in administration : Plato did not make any provision for the role of public opinion in a state. It is doubtful as to how the state can be administered successfully without taking into consideration the public opinion and without active cooperation of the people to the rulers.
As has been already pointed out, Plato had a bitter experience of democracy in the form of death of his teacher Socrates. He therefore advanced the following objections against democracy.
1. Mobocracy: Democracy is mobocracy since a mob alone rules a democracy.
2. Anarchy: Democracy becomes anarchy since there is no principles of unity or discipline among the three elements of soul and society.
3. Disorder: The principles of liberty and equality, considered as the basis of democracy, lead to disorder, if followed unlimitedly. In a democracy the human beings, like animals, claim equality and liberty in every field of life.
4. Equal rights to unsuitable persons : Democracy does not distinguish between the able and the disable. Plato, on the other hand, supported rights according to abilities. He condemned prescription of equal rights to all the people without consideration of their abilities.
5. Unjust: Democracy fosters injustice.Executive Magistratesn Again, each division in its turn, will acl in conjunction with the executive magistrates, who are the guardians of the law. The magistrates are 37 in number. They arc elected by the assembly for a period of 20 years. At the time of election the age of the magistrate should not be less than 50 years. He must not hold office on attaining the age of 70. Grades of Courts
As regards judicial institutions of the state, Plato distinguishes between private and public suits. For private sutis, there are to be three grades of courts:
1. Voluntary Court: This is composed of neighbours and friends who know the issue best. This court has 'Greatest Competence."
2. Tribal Court: The judges of this court are to be chosen by lot. In such court, the principle of a popular judicature is recognised. As • Prof Barker points out, "That principle is one on which Plato lays emphasis; all should have a share in jurisdiction, for the man who does not share in the power of sitting with others in justice is apt think himself utterly without any part in the state.
3. The Court of Selected Judges: The judges are annually chosenby all the magistrates of the state in conjunction. The sittings of these courts shall be public and decisions delivered in open court. System of Government
The form of Local Government described by Plato is small. A state of 5040 persons can need little beyond its central government. In the central city these are:
(a) City inspectors: The city inspectors are concerned with the care of the city, its buildings, its roads, water supply etc.
(b) Inspectors of the market square: The market inspectors superintend the market square and its buildings and are concerned with the care of the city, its buildings, its roads, water supply etc.
(c) Inspectors of the market square:The market inspectors superintend the market square and its buildings and business. Both type of inspectors, however, have a petty jurisdiction.
Commenting on the 'system of Government in the Laws' Prof. Barker says, "There is popular assembly, an elected council and an executive of guardians of the law. There are military, and local officials besides court of justice. The popular assembly is to be built upon a system of classes and a distinction is drawn between the classes which must and those which may, attend. Every citizen is a member and may vote in all its meetings. The council is elected on a system which combines regard for wealth with regard for universal suffrage. The guardians of the law will be freely elected by all the citizens, and from all the citizens. The military officials are partly recruited by popular election and partly nomination. The courts of law are largely based on the principle of a popular judicature. The local officials of the city and market are elected nor indeed from all, but at any rale on all. Throughout, therefore, the element of wisdom, as represented throughout also the element of liberty, as represented by the whole body of citizens, is given a free field for operation, and every citizen who so desires may cast his vote.