ABSTRACT
The bitter tone of the Gorgias is found once again in the Republic. With clear reference to Attic democracy, the state-Athens-is compared to a ship whose owner (the people) by and large is a kind-hearted fellow, although without insight and therefore an easy prey to all sorts of charlatans who without the least bit of knowledge of navigation vie with each other to become navigators (VI 488 A ff.). Or the state is compared with an unruly wild beast to which dubious flatterers pay token obedience (493 A ff.). What does the idealist-the philosopher-do in such a situation? He may very well be tempted to play the game, but the perverted idealist becomes the worst demagogue (490 E ff.— Alcibiades?), or he can retire from politics with his dignity intact and await some future miraculous change (496 D ff.—Plato?).
