The ship of state is a famous and oft-cited metaphor put forth by Plato in book VI of ‘’Plato's Republic’’. It likens the governance of a city-state to the command of a naval vessel - and ultimately argues that the only men fit to be captain of this ship are philosopher kings, benevolent men with absolute power who have access to the Form of the Good.
Plato establishes the comparison by describing the steering of a ship as just like any other "cr...
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Ship of state
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