Defining Wisdom: The Republic vs. Tao Te Ching Tobias Smollett once said, "Some folk are wise, and some are otherwise." In the Tao Te Ching and the Republic, the application of wisdom is approached in two different ways. According to Socrates, "wisdom" boils down to a very specific philosophical understanding of the notion of justice and ultimate truth. It is with this wisdom which Socrates desires a government and society be organized and run by …showed first 75 words of 1295 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1295 total…the direction of the people, but the people who guide the direction of the ruler. The wisdom of the master is much truer guide to understanding life and politics, if only because it is accepting of diversity and change, much like one is forced to do today. Socrates, though successful in abstract debate, once again irritates with inflexible, irrational, and elitist views on truth and wisdom, and how they apply to the people and government.