Q21 ~ Why does the philosopher return to the cave after seeing the good? What do his return and his reception by the cave dwellers suggest about Plato’s understanding of the relationship between philosophy and politics?

21.  Why does the philosopher return to the cave after seeing the good? What do his return and his reception by the cave dwellers suggest about Plato’s understanding of the relationship between philosophy and politics?

RW: Previous outlines had some good content, but I wasn’t thrilled with the organization.

I)     Intro

A)   Setup

1)    Briefly recount the cave allegory

B)    Thesis

1)    The philosopher returns to the cave to rule out of pity for the cave dwellers and because she is justly compelled to do so.  Upon doing so, the philosopher is not well-received.  These twin features of the philosopher’s return to rule suggest a tension between philosophy and politics, for the just city requires philosopher-rulers, but philosophers will not want to rule, and the people will not want to be ruled by them.

C)    Map

1)    An account of the philosopher’s return to rule

2)    An account of their reception

3)    The implications

II)   Why the philosopher returns to the cave: PITY and JUST COMPULSION

A)   Pity (516c)

B)    Just Compulsion

1)    Those who’ve ascended want to remain where they are

(a)   They would suffer anything not to return to the cave (516d)

(i)    Their souls ever strive upward, unwilling to occupy themselves with human affairs (517c)

(b)   They have a low view of politics [from Holmes, citation?]

(i)    Thinks that politicians do not act out of what is truly just or good, but only from a false image of what is just or good. 

(ii)  Thinks that the honor politicians and other people receive is worthless and this makes them angry.

2)    Thus, they must be compelled to return

(a)   Objection: Isn’t it unjust to make them live a worse life?

(b)   Response: It isn’t unjust.

(i)    The concern of the law is not that one class do well but that the whole city be harmonious and do well, which is only possible if the philosophers, who know the true good, are ruling (519e)

(ii)  In a non-ideal city, philosophers spring up randomly; since the city didn’t bring them up, they have no debt to repay, and so justice doesn’t require that they rule (520b)

(iii) But in a good city, the philosophers became philosophers and can see the good because of the rearing the city provided, and the city provided it so that the philosophers would rule the city for the good; thus, a debt is owed, and justice is served by returning to rule (520c).  Since the philosophers are just, and the order to return is just, they will return and rule (520e).

(iv) Indeed, the only good rulers are those who do not want to rule, since they don’t rule for personal benefit (521a).

III) The reception of the philosopher: RESISTENCE

A)   At first, the philosopher doesn’t do well as his “eyes” readjust (517d), so the people think he is useless, and won’t think it is worthwhile to ascend

1)    Reply: Philosophers seem useless because of the character of cities

(a)   Like the deaf/nearsighted captain, they are sidelined by citizens (despite knowing what is best)

(b)   Philosophers will not beg to be listened to (it is not natural for a captain to beg his sailors to follow him)

B)    In the current state of things, those who study philosophy are also cranks and are often vicious

1)    Reply: Philosophers become cranks/vicious because they are misled due to cities with poor character

(a)   With the wrong upbringing, those with the best nature becomes the worst. 

(b)   Through the corruption of the city, philosophers-in-training are misled and corrupted.

C)    Thus, the people want to kill the philosopher (516e)

IV) What the philosopher’s return and reception suggest: TENSION

A)   There is a tension between philosophy and politics

1)    For the city to be just, there must be philosopher-rulers

2)    Yet philosophers must be compelled to rule

3)    And the people will not want to be ruled by them

(a)   In Kraig Martin’s words: For Plato, the only people fit to rule are those who don’t want to rule, but the only activity better than ruling [and thus, more attractive?] is contemplating the forms.  So, a just ruler must be a philosopher–that is, someone who has been out of the cave and has knowledge of Beauty or Goodness.  This person won’t want to return to the cave, but the very fact that he won’t want to return is what makes him fit to rule.

B)    Two Interdependent Conditions for Ruling [from Roberts notes]

1)    The city must become good so philosophers can be received.

2)    Only if philosophers are received will the city become good. 

C)    What is the role of the philosopher in the unjust city?

1)    Possibly education

(a)   Turning the whole person to look the right way, i.e., at the Good (518c)

(b)   Evidence: the emphasis on education in the Republic; Socrates sees himself as an educator seeking to help make Athens more virtuous, etc.