Ethical Leadership in Plato's Apology: Wisdom, and Responsibility

This essay delves into the concept of ethical leadership as portrayed in Plato's "Apology," focusing on Socrates's perspective. It argues that a key characteristic of an ethical leader is the acceptance of fallibility and a willingness to take responsibility for actions, whether positive or negative. Socrates's trial and defense are analyzed to illustrate his belief that those who acknowledge their mistakes are wiser than those who believe themselves to be infallible. The essay then draws a parallel to a modern-day example, Ralph Northam, the governor of Virginia, and his handling of a racist incident, suggesting that Northam's refusal to take responsibility aligns with the behavior of leaders who consider themselves incapable of wrongdoing. The discussion post reinforces Socrates's integrity and dedication to truth, highlighting his willingness to face consequences for his actions, further solidifying his image as an epitome of ethical leadership.

PHILOSOPHY
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Table of Contents
Original post:...................................................................................................................................3
Discussion post:...............................................................................................................................4
Reference List:.................................................................................................................................5
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Original post:
Socrates’ apology by Plato describes the underlying characteristic of an ethical leadership. Plato
in his posterity tries to tell that an ethical leader always accept that they can be wrong and they
are not the wisest person around. Standing on a trial on charges by the state, Socrates still thinks
that he is not the wisest men present around. He addressed in a plain simple conservative tone to
the audience and seeks to find out who is the wisest man in the crowd. After he spoke with
different members of the community, he finally came to the conclusion that nobody is as wise as
him. He is the wisest of all of them. “I myself possess the wisdom which I find wanting in others”
(Socrates, defense, Apology by Plato). He concluded that less powerful people learn to accept
their mistakes and this makes them wiser than the powerful ones. People who tends be more
powerful, always take responsibility for every action if that happens for a greater good but if it
turns out to be an adverse effect they do not take responsibility because they believe they cannot
be wrong. Powerful leaders feel that they always act like infallible leaders who are incapable of
committing a mistake. An example from a modern day world, Ralph Northam, the governor of
Virginia thinks himself as an infallible leader who cannot commit a single wrong doing. He was
at a centre of controversy when he was involved in a racist incident from his past life. It was in
1984, where Northam’s yearbook depicts two men wearing Ku Klux Klan robes. It was widely
accused that Northam was one of them since the pictures were found in his year book. There was
a wide outcry demanding Northam to resign as mayor. Northam refuses to resign from his post
by claiming that he was with his family at the time when the photo was taken. He puts an
excellent example where he does not take responsibility for the wrong that he has committed and
that makes him infallible.
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Discussion post:
To
Whom it may concern,
In Socrates’ Apology, Plato tries to show that his teacher Socrates is an epitome of virtue. His
sense of leadership is unparalleled as he feels that whatever actions he takes. he will be
responsible for that either if it is for a good or bad for the society. According to Jowett, (2012)
Plato describes that Socrates’ essence of virtue is full of integrity. His dedication in quest for
truth was so total and was so unswerving that it feels repugnant to him whenever he thinks of
compromising. On his quest of finding the wisest men around and unable to find does not give
him any rejoice in establishing the fact that he is the wisest men around but rather made him to
come to a conclusion that no one is willing to take responsibility for whatever actions they took
in their life and that what makes them unwise. On standing on trial of corrupting the youths, he
feels no remorse even if the Oracle or the Jury accused him of guilty. If he is guilt then he is
ready to accept whatever consequences that follows. That is the sign of a true ethical leadership.
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Reference List:
Jowett, B., (2012). Apology by Plato. Viewed on 14th February, 2019. Retrieved from
http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/apology.html
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