Philosophy and Politics: The Case of Plato

Abstract

Plato has a serious leadership problem. One of his projects has failed, and he is dealing with a major public relations dilemma. This case study examines the efforts of a professional intellectual to influence politics, and the challenges it entailed. Students follow key aspects of Plato’s long involvement with the leadership of Syracuse, and how it related to his efforts to build an educational institution in his home town of Athens. Along the way, Plato must use emotional intelligence to evaluate the true characters of many people involved, and also be sensitive to the way others are evaluating him. At the end, students will be presented with the practical problem faced by Plato, when his greatest ally and friend in Syracuse was killed in a coup.