In this fifth installment of Mahon McCann’s lecture series on Plato’s Republic, we delve into Book Five to explore one of Plato’s most influential and controversial ideas: philosopher kings. McCann, a philosophy PhD researcher and lecturer, breaks down the concepts of love of wisdom, the distinction between appearance and reality, and the significance of forms in understanding true knowledge. This episode specifically addresses why Plato argues that philosophers should be rulers and provides an in-depth analysis of the philosopher king’s characteristics and their ability to discern real justice from mere appearances.
Chapters:
00:00 Philosopher Kings in Book Five of Republic
00:17 Overview of Book Five
01:02 The Concept of Philosopher Kings
02:21 Philosophy vs. Politics
02:59 The Nature of Philosophical Love
05:04 Plato’s Theory of Forms
13:48 Conclusion: Why Philosophers Should Be Kings
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