Socrates: Philosopher Kings and the Allegory of the Cave

Introduction: Socrates and Plato's Republic

Of the major philosophical works that describe Socrates and various aspects of his philosophy, one of the most intriguing is Plato's Republic. Although this work was not actually authored by Socrates, he is the main character in it, and through the writings of his student Plato, a number of his philosophical concepts were advanced and gained credence with posterity. This work depicts Socrates going through numerous phases of life and offers rich philosophical musings that enlighten readers about his worldview. However, other than his notions regarding the tenets of good and the Socratic method — which he regularly employed and which is still utilized within certain educational and legal settings today — the ideas he disseminated that are perhaps most characteristic of his philosophy are the concept of the philosopher kings (or philosopher rulers) and the Allegory of the Cave.

In some respects, it is virtually impossible to discuss these concepts in a manner wholly distinct from one another. The Allegory of the Cave largely serves as justification for the notion of philosopher rulers, a class of people whose existence underscores the close similarity between Socrates' conception of philosophy and politics (Duncan and Steinberger 1317). In explicating these concepts, it is worth noting that because of Socrates' idea of goodness and the utility he believed it yielded, he ultimately favored an aristocracy. Socrates ascribed to the notion that there were different degrees of goodness, and that ultimately that which was unselfish and beneficial to others was the ultimate expression of goodness. Thus, Socrates proffered the notion that society should be governed by individuals in whom this intrinsic quality of good was more prevalent than in others — individuals who had the right to use their gifts and talents for the benefit of all. Interestingly, this concept of aristocracy was also propounded by Aristotle, who was a student of Plato and similarly preferred this form of government. As Steinberger (1989) observed, "According to Arendt, Plato's concept of ruling is very likely his most substantial… contribution to the political life of the West" (1207).

Philosopher Rulers and the Concept of Goodness

After establishing that goodness was the predominant trait justifying the philosopher rulers and their right to govern society, it is important to recognize that one of the most potent similarities between this idea and the Allegory of the Cave is the magnitude of importance the philosopher ascribed to goodness. Socrates' notion of goodness exceeds mere conceptions of adhering to specific behaviors or following instructions. Rather, it is an alignment between virtue, truth, and honesty — a knowledge of what is innately right and a charge to utilize that knowledge for the benefit of society.

Socrates ultimately likens this concept of goodness to the sun (Plato), believing it to be that illuminating, that dominant, and that transformative in the effect it produces in the lives of the philosopher rulers and the subjects they govern. The metaphor of the sun as a source of goodness is likewise central to the Allegory of the Cave, and is in fact the power behind that allegory. In this part of The Republic, Socrates tells an allegorical tale in which most men — governed by physical desire and immoral behavior — are effectively blind to the sun, having never seen or felt the true source of goodness that animates the universe. Instead, they are like people who dwell in a cave that obscures the light of the sun, night and day. The closest these people come to knowing the truth about their existence is when they see muted shadows: not the true source of light and goodness, but only its diluted effects. Socrates argues that the only ones truly living in the light, knowing goodness and truth and understanding reality as it actually is, are the philosopher rulers — which gives them the right to govern.

The Allegory of the Cave and Society's Moral Hierarchy

The Allegory of the Cave reinforces the concept of philosopher rulers that Socrates advanced. The philosopher believed that most people lived their lives in a form of moral darkness because they were not exposed to — or could not understand — the source of truth and goodness (Morris 415–416). The philosopher rulers, by contrast, were able to comprehend the source of knowledge, goodness, and truth, and to apply it in ways that could help others.

The sun metaphor that runs through both concepts is not merely decorative; it is the philosophical load-bearing element that connects Socratic epistemology to his political theory. Those who can perceive the sun — that is, those who can grasp the Form of the Good — are uniquely qualified to guide those who remain in the cave. This connection between moral insight and political authority is what makes the Allegory of the Cave far more than a thought experiment about perception. It is, at its core, a political argument dressed in metaphysical language.

Works Cited

Plato. The Republic. www.constitution.org. 360 B.C.E. Web.

Confucius. The Analects. Project Gutenberg. Web.

Duncan, Christopher, and Peter Steinberger. "Plato's Paradox? Guardians and Philosopher-Kings." The American Political Science Review. 84(4), 1317–1322.

Morris, T.F. "Plato's Cave." South African Journal of Philosophy. 28(4), 415–432.

Steinberger, Peter. "Ruling: Guardians and Philosopher-Kings." The American Political Science Review. 83(4), 1207–1225.