ABSTRACT
The interaction between knowledge and politics has always played an important role for the understanding of political processes, contents and structures, related power struggles and domination acts. Plato, in his Socratic dialogue ‘Politicos’, already demonstrated to what extent the possession of political power requires specialised knowledge and how those who possess political power embody and represent such knowledge (Plato 1921). Whilst the aim of the ‘Politicos’ was to define the specific role of the statesman and, as the end of the dialogue shows, of the philosopher, Plato clearly points to the role of knowledge that is exercised, and is visible through and by the means in which social divisions are made and stabilised. In this respect, knowledge is conceptualised as an instrument for ruling society, and for legitimising, exercising and maintaining state power.
