Why do people still read Plato? Plato wrote some of the most resilient philosophical works ever. Plato believed in things called forms, which were eternal, unchanging objects that were accessible only to reason. Plato also thought democracy was a sham and that philosophers should rule. Ken introduces Chris Bobonich, professor at Stanford. Plato's criticism of democracy stems from three propositions: knowledge is needed to make good decisions, it is possible to have such knowledge, and the people that have that knowledge, philosophers, should make the decisions. How do you get knowledge? Plato thought that knowledge was arrived at by revising theories in light of criticisms and contemplating the forms. In the Republic, Socrates and his interlocutors set out to design the ideal city and discover what justice is. The three parts of the Platonic soul are reason, the spirited part, and the appetitive part. Harmony among the parts of the soul, and the parts of the city, is justice.

Was the founding of our government influenced by Plato's ideas? Plato thought that the laws should include explanations. He also thought that education was an important function of the government. Ken points out that there is a tension between Plato's ideas about government and the philosophical idea of liberalism. Plato did not think government actions needed to be justified to the people. The Republic features the metaphor of the ship of state that exemplifies what Plato thinks ruling a state is like.

柏拉图认为统治阶级中不应该有私有财产。柏拉图不认为统治需要得到统治者的同意。柏拉图认为，即使在极端恶劣的环境下，保持公正也比不公正要好。他认为最重要的是一个人良好的精神状态。一个人应该不惜任何代价去做正确的事情吗?柏拉图认为上帝是善的，他安排的事情最终会帮助正义的人。波博尼奇不认为我们必须接受柏拉图的论证来证明行善本身的价值。柏拉图赞成审查制度。

There are no Amy Standen or Ian Shoales pieces this episode due to the pledge drive.