This inquiry explores the possibility of applying principles from Plato?s education
system in the Republic to modern military leadership development programs. Both are
concerned with producing a ?guard-dog? that will serve the interests of the state rather
than exploit vulnerable civilians. Plato proposes educating guardians with a natural
disposition to believe the ?noble lie,? that it is better to serve others than to pursue selfinterest
for personal gain; but, would the proper tension in moral sensibilities prescribed
by the Platonic Grid help or hinder a military leader to successfully act on the
battlefield?
First, I examine Plato?s theory to familiarize military leaders with the education
system from the Republic; including his views on unity, reality, the theory of the forms,
and recollection of knowledge that underlie Plato?s enquiry into the nature of justice, and
lead to the need for inner harmony of the soul through the proper tension of wisdom,
courage, and temperance to rule the three elements of the soul. Then I analyze the key
leaders from the Battle of Balaclava, the Battle of Gettysburg, and the siege of the
Alamo for possible correlations of the application of the Platonic Grid aligned with the ?noble lie? to success on the battlefield. This includes inquiry into the likelihood that
belief in the ?noble lie? can motivate soldiers to make the ultimate sacrifice. I conclude
by examining how Plato?s theories could be assimilated into a military pedagogy to
produce modern day ?dogs of war? that leads to the startling conclusion that adherence
to the ?noble lie? could also be in the self-interest of the guardian who seeks to serve the
best interest of her nation.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:tamu.edu/oai:repository.tamu.edu:1969.1/ETD-TAMU-2009-05-491 |
| Date | 2009 May 1900 |
| Creators | Lasse, Stephen R. |
| Contributors | McDermott, John J. |
| Source Sets | Texas A and M University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Book, Thesis, Electronic Thesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
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