ANDRÉ SAITO CASAGRANDE

We intend to examine Socrates' argument in justification of the philosopher's rule, in Republic 473c-e. Retracing the arguments offered by Socrates, from the definition of government in Book I, we will see that the proposition that philosophers must rule seems to depend on the Idea of Good. However, this idea is not presented to us. This paradox seems to us problematic. We will try, then, to see if it is possible, using the notion of psykhagogia - aided by the dialogues Gorgias and Apology -, catch sight of another possible path that serves as justification for the philosopher's rule.