/lit/ - Literature

>>23171590
>You're missing the point. When the new breed of "gentlemen" disseminates the message, what happens?
Nta, but ideally, nothing (Socrates' rich friend Crito), and if they have an ambitious nature that falls short of philosophizing, then you get either respect for philosophy from among the elites with thought given toward moderating oneself (Glaucon and Adeimantus in the Republic), or more willful distortion to justify political projects (Critias). No one who's thought about human nature carefully is ever surprised that scoundrels might use anything at their disposal. The Republic's ideal city is asserted to degenerate no matter what because someone will *inevitably* forget the nuptial number, ergo, there is no political solution that permanently keeps the scoundrels out. Everyone notices and brays over Wolfowitzes while ignoring Butterworths, Kenningtons, and Benardetes, but Wolfowitzes are inevitable no matter what you actually say.