Plato is an unexpected architect of progressive thought, but his name has come up as the bad guy in some conservative circles lately. This is partly because at the heart of Plato’s political philosophy lies the concept of the philosopher-king, a notion that resonates with progressive governance and control.
The philosopher-king concept fundamentally assumes that an elite class knows better than the common person what’s good for them. When progressives advocate for expert-driven policy or administrative state control, they’re following this Platonic tradition of believing that some people are better qualified to make decisions for others. But conservatives can be elitists too. John Adams comes to mind.
Plato’s student, Aristotle, by contrast, believed in practical wisdom. His understanding that knowledge is distributed throughout society stands in direct opposition to Plato’s vision of enlightened rulers. When Aristotle talks about the wisdom of the many over the few, he’s making a fundamental argument against the kind of technocratic control that characterizes much of progressive thought.
In The Republic, Plato envisions leaders who combine wisdom with virtue to guide society toward the common good. This isn’t far from the progressive belief in expertise-driven governance that emerged in the early 20th century. When progressives advocate for policy guided by scientific research or expert analysis, they’re echoing Plato’s conviction that knowledge should be at the helm of governance.
The progressive focus on justice and collective welfare also finds its roots in Platonic thought. Where Plato saw justice as a harmonious society with each class contributing appropriately to the whole, progressivism seeks to structure society in ways that address systemic inequalities and promote collective well-being. The progressive call for government intervention to correct social injustices mirrors Plato’s vision of an ordered society where the state plays an active role in maintaining balance and fairness.
Education stands as another bridge between Platonic philosophy and progressive ideals. Plato believed deeply in education’s power to cultivate virtue and prepare citizens for their roles in society. This belief reverberates through progressive educational reforms, from John Dewey’s revolutionary ideas to contemporary pushes for universal public education. Both traditions see education not just as skill-building, but as a cornerstone of personal growth and civic responsibility.
Interestingly, both Plato and progressive thinkers share a certain wariness toward pure democracy. Plato worried that unchecked democratic rule could devolve into mob rule, driven by passion rather than reason. Progressive institutions like regulatory bodies and an independent judiciary reflect a similar concern, seeking to balance popular will with reasoned governance. This isn’t anti-democratic so much as a recognition that democracy needs careful structuring to function effectively.
Perhaps most striking is how both Plato and progressivism share a fundamentally utopian vision. The Republic presents an ambitious blueprint for a perfectly just society, much as progressive movements envision a future free from poverty, discrimination, and social ills. While progressives typically work within democratic frameworks rather than advocating for philosopher-kings, they share Plato’s belief that society can be consciously improved through reasoned intervention.
These parallels suggest that progressive thought, far from being a purely modern phenomenon, has deep roots in classical political philosophy. Plato’s insights into governance, justice, and social organization continue to resonate in progressive approaches to political and social reform. While today’s progressives might not explicitly reference Plato, their fundamental beliefs about the role of knowledge in governance, the importance of education, and the possibility of creating a more just society all echo themes first articulated in The Republic.
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