Plato argues in The Republic that philosophers are most fit to rule as they are wise and virtuous. This idea of rule by an elite group of wise individuals has resonated throughout history. The prompt asks students to evaluate Plato's claim in light of democracy and reconcile the two perspectives. It also questions whether the wise are less corruptible, if democracy corrupts philosophy, and if modern media is comparable to Plato's allegory of the cave. Students are to answer using excerpts from The Trial and Death of Socrates, The Republic, Nicomachean Ethics and Politics.

1. Ancient and Medieval Political Philosophy.
Write a 4-5 page paper in response to the following question. When you answer this
question, prove that you understand the texts and can apply them to your answer. Do not
summarize but use textual support for your arguments were appropriate. Topic: In his
ideal republic, Plato argues that the philosopher king is most fit to rule. This idea has
resonated throughout the ensuing centuries, leading, for instance, to the Founding Fathers
desire for a “natural aristocracy” of the wise and the virtuous to be seated in the Senate.
Evaluate Plato’s claim that the wise and virtuous are most fit to rule. Can this idea be
reconciled with democracy, or does it necessarily lead to the kind of rigid, anti-democratic
hierarchy that Plato envisions for his ideal republic? Some questions to consider: Are the
wise and virtuous less likely to seek to advance their own personal interest in politics in
order to uphold the public good? Is Plato correct that democratic politics corrupts the
philosopher, given the fact that democracy is rooted in opinion rather than in true
knowledge? Many contemporary commentators have argued that the modern equivalent to
Plato’s allegory of the cave is the role that the mass media plays in today’s democratic
system. Is this a good comparison? Does the modern mass media stupefy us by perpetuating
a world of illusions with regard to politics and society, preventing us from developing our
reason and pursuing knowledge? Or, does the wide availability of multiple sources of media
actually facilitate the pursuit of knowledge, enlightening us rather than keeping us chained
in the cave? Please note: You are not required to bring in all the theorists or all the works
that we have looked at. You are also not required to answer all the questions to consider.
These questions are intended to aid you in developing your thesis argument. Use the
following texts: – Plato, The Trial and Death of Socrates -Plato, The Republic -Aristotle,
Nicomachean Ethics -Aristotle, Politics Limit the use of outside texts.