Abstract

The paper reveals Plato’s basic views on the philosopher and philosophy. According to Plato, philosophers should rule the state, but for this purpose they should be brought up and educated in the appropriate way, possess qualities and virtues that will enable them to create if not the ideal society and the state, then the most reasonable and suitable one for the people to live in. These virtues are the following: eternal aspiration to cognize being and truth, justice, courage, reasonableness etc. Plato creates an image of the philosopher who is anxious not for personal wealth and prosperity, but for the public good, that is, highly spiritual, highly moral, virtuous life of the society and the state. Naturally, philosophers develop the appropriate philosophy to express their ideas and ideals. In Plato’s works philosophy acquires the character of the social and state ideology which is aimed at educating citizens in the spirit of justice, freedom and responsibility, dignity, good, beauty, love, that is, such philosophy which makes citizens extremely noble and directs their efforts to achieve the public good, the highest spiritual sphere, but not the material well-being. The paper shows that the philosopher and philosophy in Plato’s interpretation have not become outdated for two thousand years, but, on the contrary, have preserved their vitality and sense until nowadays.