How Did Socrates Think Of The Guardians

Moreover, Socrates’s discussion with Adeimantus and Claucon in the third book of the Republic focused on a broad range of educational methods such as music and sports, as well as having a particular educational path for the guardian class and is similar for both males and females (Rosen, 2005, p. 172). In this discussion, Socrates concluded that the guardians should not study poetry, rather, their education must be based on the four virtues: wisdom, courage, justice and moderation. Also, the guardians’ education has to focus on the physical training, through gymnastics, the guardians will live a better life without the need for constant medical care. Furthermore, they created the educational timeline for the future guardians to go through.

Socrates discuses the decline of the aristocratic regime and the rule of the philosopher king as that leads to the four lower political structures. In doing so, Socrates warns and explains to the individual or group of people that dominate each system of government about the defects which cause the decline of the city and reduces it to a lower level of political organization. The rise and fall of each regime are discussed throughout the eighth book of the Republic starting from the best regime which they all agreed on according to the statement “we have already discussed the man who resembles aristocracy, whom we rightly affirm to be both good and just” (Republic, 544e-545a). The discussion ends by talking about the tyrannical man as they agree that tyranny is the worst regime and that it is necessary for them to compare the most just and the most unjust regime based on what Socrates said: “in order that we may get a view of the most unjust man, and contrast him with the most just” (Republic,

Democracy is the system in which the masses rule under the concepts of freedom and equality. Unlike oligarchy, the poor can protect themselves from the rich under democracy and have the freedom of speech (Rosen, 2005, p. 323). However, Socrates states that the freedom for one to whatever they want leads to abuse, rather than justice or virtue (Rosen, 2005, p. 314). Hence, the result of democracy is disastrous as people will be performing any social role they want under the concept of freedom regardless of not being educated nor having the natural ability to fulfill the duties of that role. The democratic city would then fall into anarchy, and the rule of a tyrant will emerge as the fourth and final regime. Finally, tyranny is the regime in which the city is ruled by a single person driven by desires and personal wealth (Rosen, 2005, p. 324). As a result of the continuous corruption during oligarchy and democracy, the tyrannical ruler has enough power and money to wage war as a guarantee of maintaining his rule over the city (Rosen, 2005, p. 323). Therefore, according to Socrates, tyranny is worst regime as it contains the most defects and it is the lowest level of political organization a city could have as a result of the unnecessary and spendthrift desires of the ruler (Rosen, 2005, p.