The Old

Science of
Politics

Plato
and the
City’s Highest Good
The Old Science of Politics?
Contrasted
Term borrowedwithfrom
the “New
Eric Voegelin
ScienceUsed
of Politics”— term
to describe the
used by multiple theorists
general
from thesynthesis of classical
18th Century forward
Western Political thought
What is the Old Science of Politics?
• Politics—from
(politeia) ‘city’
• All cities are ordered
communities of some kind
• Politics concerns those things
having to do with ordered
communities
• Classical thinkers primarily
concerned with the
telos (‘good’ or ‘end’) of
ordered communities
• Thus, Politics is seen as the
search for the good in, by, and
for ordered communities
 Central Questions of the Old
Science of Politics
• What is the city?
• Why do cities exist?
• What are those things proper to cities?

•Is there a best way to order cities?

•If so, what is the best way to order cities?
 Central Political Concepts
Politics
those things which concern and which are characteristic of
ordered communities
Human nature Justice
In politics, what is the right or best use of power, assignment of authority, and direction of
since political communities are composed of human beings,
Power
government
we must understand something of human nature to order communities
The ability
according to their proper telos and action either of giving order to a
community or steering a community. The power to give
Governmentorder to a community is to Rule; the power to steer a
community is to Govern
For the Old Science of Politics, the process of steering a city
toward a particular telos
Authority
any recognized wielder of power

Legitimacy
who should have power or authority
Plato’s Republic
• For Plato, the orders of the city
reflect the orders of the human
soul
• The human soul shapes the city,
and the city shapes the soul
• A well-ordered soul, therefore,
may bring about a well-ordered
city
• Different orders in cities bring
about different types of people
• Some people are better suited to
exercise power than others
• Power, therefore, is best
exercised by those who are fit to
wield it, i.e. those with well-
ordered souls
The Problem:
 The Cave as City

Images
Rewards Rulers
Punishments
Religion
Decrees government
money

Ruled
Educationex ducareto lead out

The TRUTH

The LIE
Plato’s Best City
• If the highest good is the
proper telos of man, then cities
must be ordered to lead men
to the highest good.
• The only legitimate ruler,
therefore, is the one who
seeks the highest good—a
lover of wisdom:
• The Philosopher King
• Ironically he who seeks the
highest good is least of all
concerned with the affairs of
the city.
 The corruption of regimes
• Philosophical Kingship—the One who knows
(and loves) the True, the Good, the Beautiful
(contemplates the realm of Eternal Forms)
• Aristocracy—rule by the “best” in the city
• Timocracy—rule of honor
• Oligarchy—rule by the few
• Democracy—rule by the many
• Tyranny—rule by the ‘usurper’, usually one