What would Plato think of Bush?

Date published: 1/5/2006

In Plato's "The Republic," the Greek genius speaks of the perfect government. While utopias are so commonly ridiculous and idealistic, Plato's version is the closest we have come as a people to realizing the best form of government.

That is not to say, of course, that there are not tremendous flaws in his thinking; being born some 2,500 years behind in history can do that.

Racism, sexism and the idea that the family system should be abolished ruin some of his thoughts.

With that said, let us delve into his ideas on educational democracy and the "Philosopher-King."

Plato first explains that there are three types of drives: those of desire, those of emotion and those of reason.

All three, when unbalanced, lead to dysfunctional people. However, there will always be one trait prevalent above the others.

The man of desire is one who sees greener grass everywhere he looks. This leads to feelings of ambition, lust and greed. While these attributes sound like vices, they are simply real human feelings.

What, if not greed, propels capitalism?

So, these people should be merchants and tradesmen. How they are forced into these occupations will be addressed momentarily.

The second classification, emotion, is for the soldier.

The man who could care less how his cause holds up to scrutiny--he simply wants to believe firmly in a cause.

These people enjoy the primal rewards of their mind's reaction to events--adrenalin and dopamine junkies, they are.

Lastly are the thinkers. At first you might assume that this is the best type of people, but Plato did not think it so.

In their towers of ivory they are happy to contemplate life without having any true impact on it. Still, with time and training, this caste is made to be the rulers of the country. He calls these leaders the Philosopher-Kings.

So now, you ask, how will these people be forced into lives that they might not want?

Here's where the educational democracy comes in. All people, upon birth, are entered into schooling.

For the first 10 years of life there will be no factual education; there will be only physical activities and training. After all, Plato reasons, why not get those people suited for manual labor ready as quickly as possible?

The next 10 years of life are schooling on science and the mathematical order of life. Without this knowledge, man would think the world is nothing but disorganized chaos. And that set of beliefs wouldn't make a good ruler.

At 20, the tests begin. Whoever drops out at this stage enters the merchant class. Now, the soldiers and rulers have a 10-year period of manual labor, for Plato believed that without some hard work feet would not be planted on the ground.

Then, as time passes, philosophy is taught, and those resilient and even-tempered will become the philosopher-kings.

Of course, as with all utopias, it would never work, but some parts could be put to use today in our country to our supreme benefit.

For instance, mandatory education before someone can be eligible for public office. This makes perfect sense. No discrimination, just a rule that a decade of political science must be taught before someone should be able to step up to politics.

Would George Bush be around if all this education was required?

Of course not.

JOE HOLMES is taking a year off and will be attending college in the fall.

Date published: 1/5/2006