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STUDent Humanism had a profound impact on European society during the Renaissance. This movement transformed the thinking processes of many Europeans, altering the
Submitted by anderlpz on March 29, 2005
Category: Philosophy
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Weisner, Merry E. Discovering the Western Past: A Look at the Evidence Volume I:
To 1789. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. Pp. 379
In a period of a growing but stale state of human history, surrounded by tyrant rulers and complacent citizens, Plato of the Hellenic age was one of the forerunners of philosophical reason. Following the footsteps of his mentor Socrates who was forced to drink poison for his ideas of philosophy, Plato would further his master's study to create a prevalent system of philosophy that would embrace rulers and citizens alike and bring them one more step on the road of humanism. Birthed from the effort of liberating Athenians from the tyrannous rule of demagogues, Plato explains how things ought to be, how they should be deciphered and how they should be dealt with according to astute ruling. In the dialogue of The Republic, Plato devises an ideal state based on moral, ethical, physical, and practical standards that would create a very comprehensive philosophical system of rational thought and action.
One ideal Plato presents is that a "good and noble guardian of the state" will be united in philosophy, spirit, swiftness, and strength. Here Plato introduces the idea that a noble ruler must rule with more than an iron fist; that he had to be "a lover of wisdom and knowledge" (Weisner 68). This suggests that a ruler must not rule as a god, but as a person in touch with his pure thought and solid judgment of governing his state in "doing what is for the good of their country, and the greatest repugnance to do what is against her interests" (Weisner 69). Delineating a good guardian not only defined that of a leader, but of a good person, a just citizen, and an honorable husbandman. This also introduced an almost unheard of concept: accountability. The power of the ruler lay in the hands of his people, not as extensively in the hands of the people as it is now in our own culture, but unambiguously...
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