In the Republic, Plato posits that justice is preferable to injustice. Thrasymachus claims that injustice without recourse or consequence is the most rewarding experience. Glaucon adds the analogy of the ring of Gyges, and Adeimantus describes how appearance is often more important than reality. Plato is then faced with the rebuttal of their arguments. To illuminate his logic, he utilizes several interrelated geometrical models that tie the virtue of the soul and the functions of individuals, classes, and states together. Through these models he illustrates the organic conservative argument whereby the individual is the microcosm of the soul, and the state is a macrocosm of the soul. Plato asserts that if justice is good for the state, and the individual is analogous to the state, then justice is good for the individual. Given that justice on the state level was a widely accepted concept in Athens, it was more efficient for Plato to utilize this particular syllogism to prove his point to Thrasymachus.

Plato¡¦s argument is only valid if he can prove that justiceƒnƒnis good for the society or state, and that the organic conservative argument is true. In typ

The Philosopher Kings hold the highest virtue in wisdom. To become wise they must gain knowledge of the ultimate good through the Forms. The Forms are objects of knowledge , which sit atop a geometric progression which must be traversed in a linear fashion. The first level of knowledgeƒncontains images, shadows, pictures, desires, and emotions. Belief exists in the visible realm, where perception of objects provides the basis for belief. Contemplation of simple mathmatical Forms yields linear reasoning. The final stage is the comprehension of the Forms and the capacity within human nature to comprehend the true nature of reality. Here the philosopher kings become aquianted with the concepts of equality, beauty, truth, and the Form of the ultimate good. These rulers must apply their knowledge in best method of governing possible. In particular, they must promote utmost efficiency of every participating individual in the state, as well as maintaining justice.

Plato best describes his argument on ƒÚƒåƒãƒäƒÙƒÓƒÕ here: ¡§As in a well-organized state, the justice of an individual human being emerges only from the interrelationship among its separate components¡¨(Republic 443d). The application of Plato¡¦s model of government in the early middle ages was certainly lacking, as was ƒÚƒåƒãƒäƒÙƒÓƒÕ. The working of the separate components of the christian state was far from fluid. The divine line of rulers rarely had any knowledge of the Form of the Good like Plato¡¦s philosopher kings. Knowledge of the Form of the Good is essential to the application of Plato¡¦s republic. Thus the logical progression towards a rule of law method only leaves one asking why did it take so long to make that change? Certainly the kings and the papacy were aware of the inflexibility of a Romanesque and Platonic rule of law, but this was still a vast improvement over the biases and inefficiencies of the early statesman like kings. I would argue that a tyrannical model of government offers the best true description of what was practiced by early christian medieval governments in europe.

In early medieval politics, the republic method of rule by statesman was the preferred Form of governance. The royal families constituted the effectual guardian class. The power to rule was based on a perceived line of divinity, which often received validation from the Catholic Church and the Papacy. Pagan undertones and social structures in Germanic communities also contributed to an environment of superstition and strict adherence to the ideal of Christianity, particularly the divine lineage and rights to rule. This is evidenced in the reluctance in medieval times to look for a king outside of the divine line even when the line offered no suitable rul

Some topics in this essay:
Forms Forms, Papacy Pagan, Thrasymachus Plato¡¦s, Model Parliament, Europe Italy, Gyges Adeimantus, Sparta Timocracy, Romanesque Platonic, Knowledge Form, Republic Plato, rule law, philosopher kings, guardian class, republic ruled, knowledge form, republic ruled statesman, ruled statesman, plato¡¦s republic, iron bronze, rule statesman, justice individual, organic conservative argument, microcosm soul macrocosm, iron bronze elements, rule law method,