"The philosopher king is a hypothetical ruler in whom political skill is combined with philosophical knowledge. The concept of a city-state ruled by philosophers is first explored in Plato's Republic, written around 375 BC. Plato argued that the ideal state – one which ensured the maximum possible happiness for all its citizens – could only be brought into being by a ruler possessed of absolute knowledge, obtained through philosophical study. From the Middle Ages onwards, Islamic and Jewish authors expanded on the theory, adapting it to suit their own conceptions of the perfect ruler."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosopher_king
"philosopher king, idea according to which the best form of government is that in which philosophers rule. The ideal of a philosopher king was born in Plato’s dialogue Republic as part of the vision of a just city. It was influential in the Roman Empire and was revived in European political thought in the age of absolutist monarchs. It has also been more loosely influential in modern political movements claiming an infallible ruling elite."
https://www.britannica.com/topic/philosopher-king
"Ancient Greeks believed that wisdom and intelligence were important. They strived to make decisions based on information, not ignorance.
Greek philosophers, such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, advocated for engagement with thoughtful and knowledgeable citizens. Plato supported this idea so much that his ideal form of governance was not democracy, but rule by a benevolent “philosopher-king.”"
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/philosopher-kings-ancient-greece
"Philosopher kings are the rulers, or Guardians, of Plato’s Utopian Kallipolis. If his ideal city- state is to ever come into being, “philosophers become kings… or those now called kings… genuinely and adequately philosophize”.
Plato defined a philosopher firstly as its eponymous occupation-wisdom-lover. He then distinguishes between one who loves true knowledge as opposed to simple sights or education by saying that the philosopher is the only person who has access to Forms-the archetypal entities that exist behind all representations of the form.
It is next and in support of the idea that philosophers are the best rulers that Plato fashions the ship of state metaphor, one of his most often cited ideas. A true pilot must of necessity pay attention to the seasons, the heavens, the stars, the winds, and everything proper to the craft if he is really to rule a ship. Plato claims that the sailors ignore the philosopher’s “idle stargazing” because they have never encountered a true philosopher before."
https://www.preservearticles.com/articles/what-is-philosopher-king-according-to-plato/24761
"Socrates the philosopher king does not have any flaws. The philosopher king is perfect. It is impossible to be free from greed and lust and therefore, it is impossible for the philosopher king to exist as a human being.
The second reason the philosopher king could never exist is because the philosopher king alone can gain full knowledge of reality."
https://www.neveradollmoment.com/socrates-philosopher-king/
"Wow, the concept of a philosopher king is definitely an intriguing one! I can't help but wonder who would be considered a modern day philosopher king. Is there anyone out there who possesses both political skill and philosophical knowledge? I guess time will tell, but in the meantime, I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for any contenders. Maybe Elon Musk would be an example of a modern day philosopher king, he has a combination of technical knowledge, business acumen, and vision for the future. Or perhaps, someone like Noam Chomsky who has a deep understanding of linguistics and politics. Who knows, the philosopher king of the future may surprise us all!"
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