The Republic · Chapter
BOOK VI explained
Socrates and Glaucon continue their discussion, focusing on the nature of the true philosopher and why only philosophers should rule the ideal state.
What happens
Socrates and Glaucon continue their discussion, focusing on the nature of the true philosopher and why only philosophers should rule the ideal state. They enumerate the essential qualities of the philosophical nature: a love of all truth and wisdom, temperance, courage, a good memory, and a harmonious soul. Socrates addresses Adeimantus's practical objection that many who study philosophy become corrupt or useless, arguing this is due to the corruption of the best natures by a bad society and the prevalence of false philosophers. He introduces the famous analogies of the Sun (the Good as the source of truth and being) and the Divided Line (illustrating the hierarchy of knowledge from illusion to understanding).
Themes in this chapter
The Philosopher-King
The central argument: only true philosophers, who love and know eternal truth, are fit to be guardians and rulers of the state.
Knowledge vs. Opinion
Explored through the Divided Line analogy, which hierarchically distinguishes between illusion, belief, understanding, and pure reason (dialectic).
Theory of Forms
Implied throughout; the philosopher's object of knowledge is the eternal Forms. The Sun analogy represents the Form of the Good as the source of truth and being.
Characters to notice
- Socrates
Leads the argument, defines the philosopher's nature, presents the analogies of the Sun and the Divided Line, and responds to Adeimantus's challenge.
- Glaucon
Primary interlocutor; agrees with Socrates's steps in defining the philosopher's qualities and the need for philosopher-rulers.
- Adeimantus
Interposes with a practical, worldly objection about the observed uselessness or corruption of most philosophy students, prompting Socrates's extended defense.
Key passages
“Inasmuch as philosophers only are able to grasp the eternal and unchangeable... I must ask you which of the two classes should be the rulers of our State?”
Since only philosophers can apprehend eternal truth, they must be the rulers.
Core thesis of the philosopher-king.
“The true lover of learning then must from his earliest youth, as far as in him lies, desire all truth?”
A genuine philosopher must, from youth, strive for complete truth.
Defining trait of the philosophical nature.
“They fancy that they are led astray a little at each step in the argument... at the end of the discussion they are found to have sustained a mighty overthrow and all their former notions appear to be turned upside down.”
Listeners feel tricked step-by-step until their original beliefs are completely overturned.
Adeimantus describes the disorienting effect of Socratic dialectic.
“The good may be said to be not only the author of knowledge to all things known, but of their being and essence, and yet the good is not essence, but far exceeds essence in dignity and power.”
The Good is the source of both the knowability and the very existence of things, surpassing even being itself.
Key conclusion of the Sun analogy regarding the Form of the Good.