The Eliam

[Orlion]

Note: This was a philosophical dialog that I wrote for a philosophy class (Ancient Western Philosophy, or Plato's Republic w/ a few curiousities) around a couple years ago. In my ongoing quest for critiques of all kinds, I now present it to the Watch.



Ruler: Brother! I am overawed and overjoyed to see you, for your fellow Guardians had reported you lost!

Guardian: Indeed I was. As they may have told you, I was separated from my comrades by a great storm that cracked the skies and blew up the sands of the desert to bury us! When the storm had subsided, I found myself alone in the desert.

Ruler: Brave fellow, the tale of your return must truly be valorous. Will you relate it to me?

Guardian: I will, for I am disturbed by the events that happened to me while I was away from this glorious city of Eliam. After a few days of wandering in the wilderness, I came across a strange man who appeared to have been banished from his city. Being weak from the lack of sustenance, I neglected to remain hidden till I learn whether he was friend or foe and he spotted me quite readily. His manner of speech was rather peculiar, but similar enough to our own tongue that we could understand each other. He hailed me in a somewhat friendly manner, much like how a child lost on the streets will hail his elders around him in order to gain assistance. I inquired from whence he came and what brought him so deep into that perilous wilderness.

"My friend," he replied, "I had entered this desert with a group of scouts, searching for the godless and the unjust, when I was separated from my group by a massive storm."

"I, too, have been separated from my comrades by that storm," I told the stranger, believing him to be somewhat just. I then inquired of him about the unjust and the godless that his people were hunting and what manner of crime they had committed.

"No crime," he told me, "at least, not intentionally."

"I do not understand."

"You see, I come from a great and civilized nation somewhere north of here. There, the people live in luxury and may receive an education in whatever field they choose. We also elect our leader, and at the moment, our Grand Minister has convinced us that we must search out those nations that are uncivilized and offer them our help in bettering their society."

"That seems to be a noble cause," I replied, "but what if these uncivilized people you speak of reject your offer of assistance?"

"Alas, then we must force them to be civilized," the foreigner answered, "for otherwise, they would be a danger to the rest of humanity!"

"Surely, you have a military, as do other just states, that is capable and competent to defend your nation from such savages?"

"We do."

"Than why must you expend your energies in such an enterprise as to conquer unjust people and force them to be civilized?"

"It is our moral obligation to ensure that every nation respects the rights of every human being. For you see, each human being has certain inalienable rights, which include the right to pursue happiness. Some countries are ruled by tyrants, who sacrifice the comforts of their own people so that they can live in grand palaces and great luxury. Such tyranny should not go unpunished! Such people should not be kept captive!"

"But surely," I replied, "if the people under this tyrant truly didn’t wish for him to rule over them, why do they allow it?"

"They are in fear!" the foreigner cried out, as if such answers were commonly accepted facts, "they know that should they fight against their tyrannical leader, they risk losing their lives, their families, and their property!"

"But if the tyrant is as bad as you say, they stand to lose all that in any case. It is certain what you say; these people are unjust, for they are not ruled by reason. However, because they are unjust and listen not to reason, no doubt they themselves placed the government that rules them. Because of this, though they may not realize it, they would fight against their liberators, no matter how just the intentions were, for those people do not wish fro a just government."

"But we cannot just leave these people to be terrorized and enslaved by one malevolent man!"

"You say that each man has the right to pursue happiness?"

"They do."

"Does this mean that each man may pursue that happiness by whatever course he chooses?"

"So long as he does not violate that right in another man."

"Very well, if a man chooses than to pursue a course that will not reasonably bring him happiness, is it still his right to pursue that course?"

"It is his choice."

"All right, and if the man’s friend, seeing him pursue this foolish course, attempt to prevent him, is the man’s friend acting unjustly?"

"He is, for the man’s friend is taking away that man’s right."

"Which is?"

"The right to choose for himself."

"So the man’s friend, acting justly, will allow the man to do what he wishes?"

"That is correct."

"Even though what that man chooses to do is harmful to himself?"

"Correct."

"Now, let us consider something else. In a nation, who chooses the leader?"

"In a democracy, the people choose the leader."

"Only in a democracy is the leader chosen by the people."

"That is correct."

"What about in a country where there are kings?"

"The people do not choose the king, for the rulership is generally passed down from father to son, regardless of the wishes if the people."

"But if the people in this country dislike this king, and desire that another be a ruler, what will they do?"

"Well, I suppose they could rebel."

"Indeed, and they would overthrow the king and place another in his stead."

"They would."

"And if they liked the king or didn’t mind him to rule over them, would the people rebel?"

"They would not."

"So we see that in other forms of government, the people choose their rulers."

"It would appear so."

"In any form of government, therefore, if the people wished for another ruler, they would replace the ruler that they do not wish to govern."

"According to your argument."

"So, in a tyrannical kingdom, can a tyrant prevent a rebellion?"

"No, he can only control the people through fear."

"And how came this tyrant into power?"

"He probably got it during a time of great crisis for his country."

"Indeed. Most nations need a champion, especially in dire times. Oft times, the people will place the tyrant in power to rule them to fulfill that need for a champion, the need for someone to solve all their problems for them."

"But the tyrant doesn’t solve any problems! He only makes them worse!"

"If a tyrant is not fulfilling the job that his people have set him up for, why do they not rebel? Is it that there is no one else to take the rulership?"

"No, I’ve all ready told you! It’s because of fear!"

"Fear for their lives and those of their family?"

"Yes!"

"So although they may be unhappy with the ruler, they overthrow him not because they feel that their lives and the lives of their families may be destroyed."

"Yes, yes, of course."

"So they believe that they will be happy so long as they have their lives and their families have there?"

"Yes, that is what they think because of fear."

"Now, you said that all humans have the right to pursue happiness..."

"We’ve been over this before…"

"…no matter how they may pursue it…"

"So long as they do not prevent others from exercising that right!"

"…for preventing the right to pursue happiness, no matter how foolish that attempt may be, would be a great injustice."

"Yes, which is why tyrants ought to be overthrown!"

"Not at all, that is why we mustn’t interfere."

"What?!"

"The people ruled by the tyrant, we have decided, have chosen to remain under the rule of the tyrant so that they may preserve their own lives and the lives of their families. By so doing this, they believe they will avoid hardships and be happy. Are they not pursuing happiness?"

"Yes, but they are confused, and don’t understand because of fear!"

"Did we not agree that preventing one’s attempt to procure happiness, no matter how foolish it may be so long as it does not affect the choice in others, is wrong?"

"Do not try to confuse me! No doubt you come from a primitive country, for no civilized man would say such things!"

"And how can you say that where I come from is primitive? You know it not, nor what we do. If you did, as a ’civilized’ being, you would have to agree that I come from a just people."

"What makes your people so just?"

"As with most societies, ours is divided into three classes, the rulers, the auxiliaries, and the craftsmen. Our children go through an educational process to determine what job is best suited for them, and every man does his part to keep the city running, all ruled over by the philosophers, who perceive the forms."

"Sounds like some sort of cult runs your society…"

"And why do you say that?"

"You said that your society was ruled by, ’the philosophers, who perceive the forms.’ Sounds like your society is run by blind faith rather than by reason."

"Not at all, the philosophers look to the forms to guide them and the city, much like how a captain will guide his ship by the stars and his charts."

"What are these forms you speak of?"

"Everything on the earth participates in the forms. The forms exist outside the visible world and are the perfect example of justice, moderation, goodness, and so forth. Depending on how much we participate in the forms, the more we are like them. For example, one that is beautiful participates in the form of beauty, though it is not beauty itself, while one who hardly participates in the form of beauty lacks it and can be called ugly."

"All right, if such forms were to exist, how come only the philosophers can see them and not the craftspeople?"

"The philosophers do not ’see’ the forms, but ’perceive’ them…"

"Uh-huh… sounds like a controlling device to me, a way for you guys to keep the worker class under control by saying they can have no part in the governing of the city just because they can not ’perceive’ these forms. What’s so important about these forms anyway, that the perception of them enables you to rule the city?"

"You ask many questions but wait not for the answers. If you had a little patience, you would receive this knowledge and more. Now, be silent, and listen. The forms are essentially forms of goodness, and the perception of them allow us to know what is right and what is wrong, what is just and unjust, virtuous, and unvirtuous. Do you not agree that such knowledge would qualify a person to govern?"

"If they had such knowledge…"

"Now, the forms are in the invisible world, we cannot observe them directly. However, if we have the talent to perceive the abstract, we may. This talent is determined through the educational process through means of a summoner. This summoner is of such a nature that it may be rooted both in the visible and invisible worlds, and the summoner we use is mathematics. If one can understand mathematics, they are able to deal with the abstract and may, with the proper training, become a philosopher."

"You determine your rulership based on whether or not one can understand mathematics? That is absurd!"

"The summoner only picks out those who may be fit for the rulership if trained properly. To become a philosopher, one must be trained in dialectic examination. This is the true way of seeking truth, for whereas mathematics cannot prove the basic postulates, but accepts them as true, dialectic examination may prove all things."

"Impossible! Your people are not just, you’re just as tyrannical as the savage nations! Your philosophers may be clever, but their hunger for power is still apparent to any civilized and educated individual."

"Why do you make assertations based on being civilized and educated without establishing thoroughly that you possess those two qualities? It seems to me that your society is the unjust and savage one. For as your nation no doubt has many people who compete for the vote of the people for a chance to rule, ours is ruled by a certain philosopher chosen through chance, for no philosopher wishes to rule the city. Does this surprise you? I thought a civilized and educated person such as you would realize that there are much better pursuits than the pursuit of power. Our philosophers desire only to gain true knowledge, and such knowledge is only attainable through the forms, which comes through reflection and study, not rulership. A philosopher only rules because it is necessary for the welfare of the state and would give up his sovereignty when his obligation to the city is fulfilled."

"You poor, pathetic soul, you truly believe these lies they tell you?"

"How are they lies?"

"How can I explain it to you? You are completely brainwashed! I will make you an offer, though. If you return with me to my country so that you may lead us to this city of yours, so that we may civilize it, you will come to know true joy and freedom, not this servitude that you are in now."

"Your offer disgusts me. You have at no time even attempted to prove why your form of government should be desired over my own, you only maintain that we must be tyrannical, no doubt only because we do not do things as you may wish. All I know is that in my city, everyone has a role to play; everyone is given the job that best suits him or her and furthermore, there is no crime in the city. Can you at least say that about your society? Does your society provide jobs for all, jobs that they are qualified for? Does everyone feel like they take part in the overall good of your society? Is your society free of murder, rape, thievery, and the like?"

"Enough! If you will not come of your own free will, than I shall force you and we shall find the means of making you reveal the location of your city!"

At that point, Brother, the foreigner attempted to overpower me, so that he might take me prisoner to his land and now doubt torture me to reveal Eliam’s location. I was weak from lack of sustenance, but I was not irrational. I was able to best him and slay him. At least for the time being, Eliam is safe from these invaders.

Ruler: That is well… but tell me, what disturbs you?

Guardian: I just feel that I have failed as far as my argument was concerned. Maybe if I had been better, the foreigner would not have acted so rashly.

Ruler: It is certain that your philosophical discussion is lacking, but you are still young in the training. Your main mistake was allowing your spirited part to take part of the discussion, and not just leave it to your rational, philosophical part. But I assure you, that even with a perfect philosophical presentation; there are people that will not listen, who are deafened by their appetites and ignorance. Remember what happened to Socrates. Now, let us go, that we may prepare ourselves for the chance that this nation to the north discovers and attacks us.