(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Has our Ship of State -- not so quietly -- become a Ship of Fools ... [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-10-14 — — I’ve been a fan of the Robert Plant song “Ship of Fools” for as long as I can remember. Not sure why exactly — it was mostly the melody, and the way it makes me feel, I think, when I listen to it. Lately I’ve been wondering though, given the rapid rise of chaos in the country and the world, on so many different fronts — maybe there is more to that ancient melody/story, than I ever realized back in the day, when I used to mindlessly hum along to its wistful chorus … Ship of Fools, the Enduring Metaphor by Levi Asher aka Marc Eliot Stein, Literary Kicks -- March 24, 2015 [...] I knew that the concept of a ship of fools can be traced back to Book Six of Plato’s Republic. Socrates and Adeimantus are discussing the different models by which a government can rule wisely, and Socrates offers this analogy to Adeimantus: Imagine then a fleet or a ship in which there is a captain who is taller and stronger than any of the crew, but he is a little deaf and has a similar infirmity in sight, and his knowledge of navigation is not much better. The sailors are quarreling with one another about the steering — every one is of opinion that he has a right to steer, though he has never learned the art of navigation and cannot tell who taught him or when he learned, and will further assert that it cannot be taught, and they are ready to cut in pieces any one who says the contrary. They throng about the captain, begging and praying him to commit the helm to them; and if at any time they do not prevail, but others are preferred to them, they kill the others or throw them overboard, and having first chained up the noble captain’s senses with drink or some narcotic drug, they mutiny and take possession of the ship and make free with the stores; thus, eating and drinking, they proceed on their voyage in such a manner as might be expected of them. Him who is their partisan and cleverly kaids them in their plot for getting the ship out of the captain’s hands into their own whether by force or persuasion, they compliment with the name of sailor, pilot, able seaman, and abuse the other sort of man, whom they call a good-for-nothing; but that the true pilot must pay attention to the year and seasons and sky and stars and winds, and whatever else belongs to his art, if he intends to be really qualified for the command of a ship, and that he must and will be the steerer, whether other people like or not-the possibility of this union of authority with the steerer’s art has never seriously entered into their thoughts or been made part of their calling. Now in vessels which are in a state of mutiny and by sailors who are mutineers, how will the true pilot be regarded? Will he not be called by them a prater, a star-gazer, a good-for-nothing? Socrates is suggesting that we cannot always listen to our mob mind when we make decisions as a community; we must discern our smarter instincts and repress our dumber ones. On a political level, Socrates appears to be suggesting that a simple democracy may descend to dysfunction and chaos. Indeed, one of the main ideas of The Republic is that a wise captain must guide the ship of fools. [...] prater : noun — an obnoxious and foolish and loquacious talker. ] kaid: Arabic qā'id leader, commander in chief, from qād to command qā'idqād to — Merriam-Webster. kaid (etymology) {hat-tip to democratos} ] [ kaids: verb — possibly an early form of aids {? I was unable to track down the definition.}] Here is the historical context and commentary on the ‘ship of fools’ analogy for governing, as explained by Socrates to his comrade and/or student Adeimantus: Plato: The Republic Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy -- A Peer-Reviewed Academic Resource f. Book VI Socrates goes on to explain why philosophers should rule the city. They should do so since they are better able to know the truth and since they have the relevant practical knowledge by which to rule. The philosopher’s natural abilities and virtues prove that they have what is necessary to rule well: they love what is rather than what becomes (485a-b), they hate falsehood (485c), they are moderate (485d-e), they are courageous (486a-b), they are quick learners (486c), they have a good memory (486c-d), they like proportion since the truth is like it, and they have a pleasant nature (486d-487a). Adeimantus objects that actual philosophers are either useless or bad people (487a-d). Socrates responds with the analogy of the ship of state to show that philosophers are falsely blamed for their uselessness (487e-489a). Like a doctor who does not beg patients to heal them, the philosopher should not plead with people to rule them (489b-c). To the accusation that philosophers are bad, Socrates responds that those with the philosopher’s natural abilities and with outstanding natures often get corrupted by a bad education and become outstandingly bad (491b-e). Thus, someone can only be a philosopher in the true sense if he receives the proper kind of education. After a discussion of the sophists as bad teachers (492a-493c), Socrates warns against various people who falsely claim to be philosophers (495b-c). Since current political regimes lead to either the corruption or the destruction of the philosopher, he should avoid politics and lead a quiet private life (496c-d). [...] — Not really sure where that important ‘debate’ finally ended up, wrt to philosophers, and their natural aptitude/ability/obligation to govern … Guess were still trying to figure that one out. The way things have been going lately however, it sure seems like having a “true pilot,” and a band of “uncorrupted philosophers” — leading our ship of state — may be HUGELY preferable to the unruly gang of mutineers, constantly exhorting, “it’s my way, or the highway” … “comply, or be thrown overboard” … — Of course, as any good Captain knows … it’s quite difficult to have a successful journey, unless you know starting out, exactly where it is you hope to go, and where you want to end up ... One party has such a destination, a platform, a vision for where they want to take the nation — the other party well, has no platform, no vision … unless you think that chaos and “tearing it all down” are worthy goals? Goals occasionally blurted out the bickering “ship steerers” — who are now haplessly leading the nation to nowhere. Or worse. The compass-led party would be wise to point out these differences — between compassion and chaos — every chance we get. Our pilot-philosophers actually have “destinations” … means and methods — and theirs, well more and more they have become a modern-day Ship of Fools ... — — Robert Plant - 'Ship of Fools' - Official Music Video [HD REMASTERED] [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/10/14/2199403/-Has-our-Ship-of-State-not-so-quietly-become-a-Ship-of-Fools?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/