Reflections on THE REPUBLIC by Yvonne Ong

Choice of rulers:
“ men whose life is impoverished and destitute of personal satisfaction but hope to snatch some compensation for their own inadequacy from a political career, there can never be good government. They start fighting for power, and the consequent internal and domestic conflicts ruin both them and society”
But it’s not true! It’s a generalization. People who were impoverished from the start might work harder to better the lives of the people. They are the ones who are best able to empathize. Those who have never gone through what people at the bottom of the society can never understand the hardship involved. They can only sympathize but they can never feel what they feel. Those at the top all their lives may prove not to be the best rulers

Yet on the other hand, I’m not saying that those at the bottom are necessarily better rulers than those at the top. My point is that when determining who should rule a country, status shouldn’t come into picture. It should be his beliefs, his capabilities and his character that should play a part.

Education of the ruler:

Socrates claims that the best and quickest way of establishing a prosperous society will be to “send away into the country ALL citizens over the age of ten; having thus removed the children from the influence of their parents’ present way of life”. This method seeks to bring up children using ways to enable them to become true philosophers.

Yes, I do agree that a family does affect the growth of a child and his future character. The experiences undergone by their parents, their religious and moral beliefs and the economic situation and living conditions of the family are some factors affecting the up bringing of the child. I shall elaborate further on what I mean by the personal experiences of parents. Supposing the parents were brought up under a strict environment because of their family status, these parents will tend to impose these values on their children as well, especially if their children are the rebellious sort. Different expectations of different parents will determine how the child is brought up and his future character.

However, there is the importance of having a family that Socrates overlooked. No doubt the child may be exposed to more opportunities of gaining knowledge. However, a family plays the role of not only imparting knowledge and values to a child. A family is supposed to provide children with a sense of belonging and a unique identity. It is in a family where a child should feel that he is special and is encouraged to pursue his own interest. If ALL children were sent to be put under the care of some philosophers, will each and every child feel that he is special anymore? Will these teachers be able to give as much attention to each and every child as what a family is more capable to give? NO!