In Plato's most famous work, the 'Republic', he puts forward the view that the ideal state, embodying the highest and best capabilities of human social life, can really be achieved, if the right people are put in charge: "There will be no end to the troubles of humanity...till philosophers become kings in this world, or till those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers, and political power and philosophy thus …showed first 75 words of 1886 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1886 total…nature will remain true to its vocation and persevere to the end" (494 a), and therefore a rejection of the claim that philosophers make the best rulers. Bibliography Plato. (Radice, R. ed) 2003. The Republic. Penguin Classics Annas, J. 1981. An Introduction to Plato's Republic. Clarendon Press Wilson, J. 1984. The Politics of Moderation - An Interpretation of Plato's Republic. University Press of America Field, C. 1969. The philosophy of Plato. Oxford University Press www.philosophypages.com/hy/2h.htm (4/11/2003)