Let me begin with a pair of observations I came across this morning. Each in their own way raise the question of whether the motivations behind the demands of our social "guardians " (do a "Ctl+F guardian") are noble or ... ignoble. Plato's guardians weren't supposed to enjoy wielding power over others, nor necessarily to enjoy telling the "noble lies" that induced compliance with the order of the Republic. But a growing number of thinking persons harbor suspicions about our social and progressive guardians--and their motives. So, to follow from the Platonic metaphor, if our guardians have noble motives for their lies, presumably their lies would also be noble. But if their motives are less than noble--self serving, venal, in one way or another--would their lies then be ignoble? At best?
UPDATED: Noble Lies Or Ignoble Lies?
UPDATED: Noble Lies Or Ignoble Lies?
UPDATED: Noble Lies Or Ignoble Lies?
Let me begin with a pair of observations I came across this morning. Each in their own way raise the question of whether the motivations behind the demands of our social "guardians " (do a "Ctl+F guardian") are noble or ... ignoble. Plato's guardians weren't supposed to enjoy wielding power over others, nor necessarily to enjoy telling the "noble lies" that induced compliance with the order of the Republic. But a growing number of thinking persons harbor suspicions about our social and progressive guardians--and their motives. So, to follow from the Platonic metaphor, if our guardians have noble motives for their lies, presumably their lies would also be noble. But if their motives are less than noble--self serving, venal, in one way or another--would their lies then be ignoble? At best?