Belief
An attempt by an individual to sway certain groups into adopting ideals that disagree with the doctrines set by an appointed government should be met with strong suppression to hamper a corruption of the minds of the masses.
Counter arguments
There is the need for the government to be democratic. It will, therefore, reflect the will of the people and a change in ideals, whether driven by an individual or a group, should be encouraged to ascertain when the people really want ( The Republic, n.d.).
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A democratic government will also make room for opposition encouraging individuals to challenge the authority in areas where it fails to deliver to the electorate ( The Republic, n.d.). ( The Republic, n.d.).
Visionary individuals should also be subjected to unbiased criticism. It should also be understood that the ideas they put across may become relevant later in life and project their suppressors as ignorant and myopic ( Selections from the Phaedo , n.d.). A belated revelation of deceit may portray the authority in a negative image.
Individuals driven by bitterness have also radicalized masses into viewing the authority as the enemy, unleashing terror on unsuspecting society to humiliate the government ( Selections from the Phaedo , n.d.).
Political views will always vary depending on various factors, such as individual priorities and intellectual harvest (West, n.d.).
An ideal government should reflect the views of the people and also give an ear to the minorities ( The Republic, n.d.).
The authority is obliged to investigate how and why certain ideals are becoming influential while they are not yet recognized by the authority ( Selections from the Phaedo , n.d.).
Coercion and persuasion in the imparting of such ideals should be scrutinized to determine the role of the authorities in handling the underlying issues ( Selections from the Phaedo , n.d.).
Underlying interests and applicability of the ideals in future may help determine whether to adopt or suppress the beliefs in question ( The Republic, n.d.).
Dialogue between Socrates and Interlocutor
Interlocutor: If I may speak my mind, Socrates, I believe that an individual may gradually impart his ideals in the minds of the masses to change the way they think. If such belief may upset the exercise of authority the government has a duty to intervene and save the masses from a corruption of the mind through an application of the powers at display. What is your opinion?
Socrates: To begin with, the masses have a right to be governed by a democratic authority which reflects the people’s will. If such a will be swayed, whether through popular views of an individual or otherwise, the government should take it as a challenge and check whether everybody is well represented. My reason comes from an understanding that there are certain individuals that may see far into the future and develop ideals that we may suppress today only to be adopted by the coming generations. It would be a shame to such an authority and the people under its service would really be cheated.
Interlocutor: But there might be certain individuals who may act out of bitterness for not being consulted while forging the government. They may gradually radicalize the massed and at times unleash terror to force support with the aim of diminishing the authority. Surely these individuals are enemies of the state and must not be allowed to thrive.
Socrates: Such individuals are often driven by personal priorities. These priorities should be brought to the table to gauge the intellectual harvest behind their development. Intellectual idealists who bank on violence may call for government censors because even their authority, if assumed, will still adopt an iron fist. Sure there are voices that seek to argue for the minorities, but the way they spread their influence should not seem to brainwash of force anyone into getting into the bandwagon.
Interlocutor: Are you of the opinion, then that interests and applicability are factors to consider in criticism of these?
Socrates: Indeed. The interests should be for the good of all and must not seem to serve personal agenda. More so, the applicability should be a factor. An ideal may not be relevant today due to ignorance of many. But the future may reveal that the ideas we fight today would have been more civilizing of they were adopted earlier.
References
Plato (n.d.). The Republic. Retrieved from http://www.idph.net/conteudos/ebooks/republic.pdf on 16/5/2016
Plato (n.d.). Selections from The Phaedo. Retrieved from https://www.pdf-archive.com/2015/09/14/06-phaedo/06-phaedo.pdf on 16/5/2016
West, T. G. (n.d.). Plato’s apology of Socrates . Cornell University Press. Retrieved from http://www.sjsu.edu/people/james.lindahl/courses/Phil70A/s3/apology.pdf on 16/5/2016
