The Possibility of a Philosopher-King: Eros , Knowledge, and Justice

Abstract The paradox of the philosopher-king in Plato’s Republic concerns the tension between the philosopher’s contemplative happiness and the obligation to rule. Existing interpretations, appealing to either external compulsion or internal eros , either fail to explain the philosopher’s motivation or leave political knowledge insufficiently grounded. This article argues that resolving the paradox requires the kind of ontological framework exemplified by the Weak Two Worlds Theory (WTW), and develops a corresponding account of rational eros . By grounding political cognition in ontological entailment, the WTW reconciles philosophical happiness with the political realisation of justice, resolving the paradox motivationally while preserving ontological hierarchy.