Depiction of Leadership in Platos Guardians From The Republic - Book Report/Review Example

This leader would study mathematics and later study philosophy. The one chosen to lead would stand out from this group of students as the one who is the most virtuous. Leaders of Plato’s ideal state would need to possess wisdom, courage, moderation, and justice. They would also need to possess knowledge and reason that rules over their other baser desires such as obtaining food, money, and pleasure. Furthermore, they need to understand what makes for a good life and what makes for a bad one.

Plato does believe that all leadership comes from moral authority, or virtue, as he would describe it. Virtue comes from “consuming” things that are good for the soul. One who consumes things that are bad for the soul will eventually become unjust and be unfit to rule. Therefore, those who consume virtue and practice virtuous habits are the fittest to rule. While some may feel that this is an old fashioned view of authority, Plato would argue that people who believe this way are merely ignorant and therefore they see being unjust as a way (and perhaps the only way) to get ahead in life.

Plato’s definition of “guardians” relates to modern professionals in a significant way. In a society, professionals are given the authority to govern or manage in their particular field.