Philosophers desire to knowPhilosophers desire to know

Knowledge of is of what is in an Knowledge of is of what is in an unqualified sense. It is about what is unqualified sense. It is about what is permanent and realpermanent and real

belief or opinion is about what is part real, belief or opinion is about what is part real, what is constantly varying, imperfect, what is constantly varying, imperfect, qualified.qualified.

Why suppose philosophers make Why suppose philosophers make better rulers?better rulers?

Just as a painter can make good likeness if Just as a painter can make good likeness if they see what they are supposed to be they see what they are supposed to be painting, so a ruler can make a city just, painting, so a ruler can make a city just, only if the ruler knows what justice is.only if the ruler knows what justice is.

If you rule on the basis of belief, you are like If you rule on the basis of belief, you are like a painter painting a mountain, who has a painter painting a mountain, who has never seen a mountain.never seen a mountain.

Cf. 484c-dCf. 484c-d

Socrates also explicitly connects the Socrates also explicitly connects the philosophical nature to the virtues. philosophical nature to the virtues. People who love knowledge will have their People who love knowledge will have their desires channeled into learning, and not desires channeled into learning, and not be intemperate.be intemperate.They will not overvalue life– they will be They will not overvalue life– they will be courageous. courageous. Since they don’t love money, they won’t be Since they don’t love money, they won’t be unjust.unjust.

Adeimantus’ objectionAdeimantus’ objection

Its hard to argue against you Socrates, but Its hard to argue against you Socrates, but most people when they hear you speak most people when they hear you speak will think you must have tricked them. will think you must have tricked them.

Look around you, see the people who Look around you, see the people who actually are philosophers. The best are actually are philosophers. The best are useless, and most are cranks or useless, and most are cranks or “completely bad.”“completely bad.”

Why the best philosophers are Why the best philosophers are useless: the simile of the shipuseless: the simile of the ship

Imagine a ship with an owner who is Imagine a ship with an owner who is almost deaf, almost blind, and does not almost deaf, almost blind, and does not know much about seafaring.know much about seafaring.Imagine also sailors, who quarrel will one Imagine also sailors, who quarrel will one another to become captain. another to become captain. The sailor who is best able to persuade The sailor who is best able to persuade the owner to make them captain—this the owner to make them captain—this person is called a navigator, a true person is called a navigator, a true captain.captain.

On the ship, “Navigation” is not the art of On the ship, “Navigation” is not the art of piloting a ship, but the “art” of persuasion. piloting a ship, but the “art” of persuasion. You are a good navigator, captain, if you You are a good navigator, captain, if you can get the ship owner to let you be can get the ship owner to let you be captain.captain.People who claim you need to know where People who claim you need to know where the north star is, or how to read charts and the north star is, or how to read charts and weather—they are useless. They are not weather—they are useless. They are not made use of in the ship.made use of in the ship.

The ship is like the cityThe ship is like the city

The ship owner is the people.The ship owner is the people.

The sailors are politiciansThe sailors are politicians

The useless stargazers are the The useless stargazers are the philosophers.philosophers.

The best philosophers are useless The best philosophers are useless because the city does not use them, not because the city does not use them, not because they don’t have useful because they don’t have useful knowledge.knowledge.

The simile of the ship and The simile of the ship and democracydemocracy

The smile of the ship illustrates Plato’s The smile of the ship illustrates Plato’s view of democracy. Instead of valuing view of democracy. Instead of valuing knowledge, democratic government’s knowledge, democratic government’s value persuasion. The ability to get value persuasion. The ability to get elected, or get policies passed by the elected, or get policies passed by the assembly of the peopleassembly of the people

But it is one thing to persuade someone, But it is one thing to persuade someone, another to actually know what is best.another to actually know what is best.

Does The simile apply to Does The simile apply to contemporary politicscontemporary politics

Politicians poll people to decide what they Politicians poll people to decide what they want, and then make policies suited to want, and then make policies suited to those desires.those desires.

A good politician is someone who can A good politician is someone who can persuade, who can get elected.persuade, who can get elected.

Just like the pseudo captains in Socrates’ Just like the pseudo captains in Socrates’ ship. ship.