Funny what old guys can teach you, if you wonder enough, look back, think hard. What would Jefferson say to us now?
Around 356 BC – Before Christ – several books were written by a guy named Plato, a student of a teacher named Socrates. Ancient Greeks thought and taught a lot, including about life and politics.
Athens was their capital. Greece would fall to the Macedonians less than 35 years later, in 322 BC. Remember, we are counting backwards. All this happens before Christ.
Thoughts recently crossed my mind while rereading Plato. Jefferson read these old Greeks a lot. They had insights, some important today – because history repeats itself, and we are in revolutionary times.
First, while Plato’s best ideas – in my opinion – appear in The Republic, where he explains how an “ideal republic” is best run, and The Apology, where he defends Socrates from death, saying he spoke truth, abides by his faith, and was trying to get the “youth” to think for themselves.
Plato’s last book, called The Laws, is pure fiction but interesting – a conversation between thinking men who disagree about what the “ideal constitution” will one day look like.
One is asked how you get “harmony” to persist in a republic with so many differing ideas. He says to prepare against external enemies, try to avoid “civil strife.”
They debate how you do that, the delicate balance needed between “authority” and “democracy,” how you keep order and tradition while letting differing opinions surface. He says no one wants a civil war to “occur in his own state, and…if it did…it should come to as speedy an end as possible.”
This sounds like common sense, but also an interesting starting point for our divided society, both sides are sure they are right, retooling our military for external war, but also facing a radical tip toward internal violence.
So, what do the men conclude? Plato never comes right out and says, “This is the right way, that the wrong.” Instead, he forces his readers to follow each man’s reasoning, to think about what they have to say.
Taken as a whole, this book teaches the modern reader several concrete things.
First, it teaches – without saying so – that the best way to solve our biggest problems, the only way for a republic to survive, is for people to exchange views willingly, to want to learn from each other.
Second, he urges – because this is what the men are doing – that we somehow get into a conversation about what works, what does not work, strive to get others to see some things never work, some things sometimes do, and some always do.
Third, these old Greek guys conclude that laws matter because they keep order. Without order, the republic collapses. You should frame moral laws and follow them, encourage others to the value in this, and ensure consistent enforcement.
While the State matters, so do individuals, because they come from a line of individuals who respected the “republic” and handed traditions forward to preserve its virtues. Do not throw away what generations thought worthy of handing on.
He stresses the importance of “education and virtue,” not just math, reading, science and philosophy, but wisdom, teaching character and why it matters. Without education and moral learning, “virtues” are lost, on which the republic’s survival depends.
Plato’s characters persuade us to pay closer attention to the education of youth, since they are the republic’s future; the future depends on us. Plato notes the biggest challenge is teaching youth to control desires through reason, self-discipline.
Well dang…level-headed talk, calm, and reason are preferable to internal violence. Pursuing truth matters. Laws matter. Educating youth with character matters. Novel, eh?
What else does Plato say? What does an ideal constitution look like? His characters do not quite know. It has a touch of “monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy,” focuses on citizens, social mobility, respect for morals, and acknowledges morality from God.
Sure as our New Testament follows the Old, our Founders in 1776 called on these same Greeks for guidance, soon creating the best Constitution known to Mankind.
Why bother with old Greek guys? Because they sure knew a lot, thought a lot, wrote a lot, and were respected by our Nation’s Founders. These old Greeks taught lessons we forget these days.
Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, Maine attorney, ten-year naval intelligence officer (USNR), and 25-year businessman. He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (North Country Press, 2018), and “Cherish America: Stories of Courage, Character, and Kindness” (Tower Publishing, 2024). He is the National Spokesman for AMAC. Today, he is running to be Maine’s next Governor (please visit BobbyforMaine.com to learn more)!
This is the most thought I’ve given to Plato in. a long time . Only read bits and pieces of Plato’s writing over the years since the 1970’s . Eratosthenes ,the Greek astronomer and mathematician 276 – 194 B.C. – ( before Christ ) always registered first when Greek thinkers was mentioned. Eratosthenes determined the circumference of the Earth , to within approximately 150 miles or so , very impressive , using only form of Sun-dial for an instrument and his well developed sense of intelligence . That was in 240 b.c. – ( before Christ ). Back to Plato, sounds like he would have approved of AMAC and these opportunities to comment on and participate in the very important matter of freedom of speech . Possibly. a political party called the. ” Old Greek Thinkers ” could come into.the picture someday not too far away ! That may sound like a bit of humor, however these insights of what all Plato and others during that period had to say is seriously good and seriously virtuous. The kind of thinking that could make for needed improvements not only here in America , but worldwide. Great stuff to think about RBC !
What a grand article. I have not read Plato since college days (1960’s). Plato was simple , straight forward, and intricate at the same time. We are the only species on the planet that have the reasoning power to conduct our lives in a most moralistic and virtuous way.
Seems simple enough to have a peaceful society but how we conduct our lives is most confusing.
Maybe we need to read more of the most instructive book ever published; the BIBLE.
BASIC INSTRUCTION BEFORE LEAVING EARTH.
The debate should not be between authority and democracy, it should be between authority and freedom. There was never a question in the creation of the US that the government would be chosen by democratic means. The question has been as to how much authority that government should have. We see governments in Europe, chosen by democratic means, that are limiting free speech and political participation. Freedom and democracy are not synonymous, that is why we have our Bill of Rights.
RBC, LOVE all of your writings. This one is special to me because I graduated from a Liberal Arts College where the Greek Classic Philosophy was part of the core curriculum. Every citizen would benefit from reading the classics. Thanks for the informative/educational article.
Very thought provoking. Many in our congress seem to be level headed and open to discussion, but the radical loudmouths get more attention, which has probably always been true. We can only hope the rational minds prevail. And yes, our education system is sorely lacking, but getting the federal government out of it is promising. I’d like a magic wand to make things happen NOW! Lol
If the citizen is to choose the government , will not the quality of government depend on the quality of the voter, what kind of government can a citizen who is not very bright, ignorant of that which is going on in public life, indifferent and oblivious to all but his own comforts, swayed by false promises , what can he choose, he is the one who spoils it for the rest of those, who keep the looser afloat . Should the irresponsible indifferent voter have that right? Lets not forget non citizens. Here is the Achilles heel, these are the people choosing, and boy oh boy do they choose.