Plato's Criticism Of Athenian Democracy

Plato begins his claim to the philosopher king by describing them as someone who loves knowledge, and thus loves the forms, as they are the highest form of understanding one can have with the world. However, since they are the highest form of understanding one can have with the world, most cannot see the forms at all. This causes the idea of the useless philosopher to spread easily, as they simply appear as the sailor in the analogy of the ship did, as a lone stargazer. This love for the forms also constitutes the absolute love for knowledge that a philosopher king must possess. The philosopher king needs not only to hold the virtue of knowledge, but also of truth and honesty. These virtues are features that provide a safe understanding

A man who truly loves learning and knowledge cannot be without the virtue of honesty, as Plato states, it is “inconceivable.” The philosopher king must present all of these and also be fit to rule a city, and are completely self-sufficient in their desires, thus being a great philosopher implies a great ruler.
The society surrounding the philosopher king “to be” as it seems, is very challenging and not prepared to allow themselves to be governed by someone who does not seek what they as a whole desire. The commentary becomes political here, and leans towards a criticism of Athenian democracy. The Athenian population at this time seems very skeptical, as they tend to search for a leader who gives exactly what they desire, and not what the city truly needs. However, the philosopher king is only interested in what would benefit the entire city and create the most just environment possible, not simply what the masses crave. As he exists in the ideal society, the philosopher king is one who acts as a ruler that simply keeps the just city from malfunctioning and falling to a lower system. However, in a nation that has private property, personal