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Relationship between the ruler and ruled

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In Plato’s The Republic and More’s Utopia, both writers examine the relationship between ruling class and the ruled within a just society. Within each work, both classes are bound by the mutual sacrifice and duty that perpetuates justice, but the writers’ individual experiences with different forms of governance lead them to diverge when discussing the control that the ruled have over their rulers.

In both Utopia and The Republic, sacrifices on behalf of both the rulers and the ruled forge solidarity between members of the two classes. Plato and More agree that just as every man has a talent to offer, every man must also forsake certain pleasures to promote the functioning of the society as a whole. This is why in neither work do rulers have more wealth or luxury than those they rule over, for justice in both societies demands equal distributions of happiness and material goods among members. Rulers in both works also have a duty to be a guide for other citizens to follow. Just as Plato’s philosopher kings must descend back into the cave to lead others to enlightenment, magistrates in Utopia must encourage industrious spirit among citizens by performing manual labor.

However, their experiences with democracy and monarchy lead Plato and More to defend different forms of government, resulting in different powers that the ruled have over their rulers. Plato critiques democracy and believes that leadership roles ought to be filled by those whose intrinsic talents are best suited to the job. Thus, citizens are unable to elect their rulers. Because each member of society is fated to perform a certain role regardless of his own desires, there is an irreconcilable divide between the rulers and the ruled, for no ruler can ever be removed from power, and no ordinary citizen can ever rise to the level of a ruler. In contrast, More’s version of governance allows for social mobility. After living under a monarchy for his entire life, More promotes a democratic republican form of government wherein citizens elect a number of magistrates who then make decisions – such as selecting the prince – with their interests in mind. The ruled can revoke the power of the magistrates if they are thought be be unjust or abusive. This check on the power of the ruling class ensures balance and an equal distribution of power throughout the society that is essential to maintaining justice.

Back to High School

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Drayer. First floor on the end of the hall, to the right. When the days are young and the excitement of everything new is upon us, the air in the room is light. The room houses a new group of friendships and the possibility of more. As time ticks they learn about each other, laughing and wondering and the air in the room smells like cheese dip and comradery. Two have a spark, and the air crackles with optimism. The fluidity of relationships ebbs and flows around the room and the air becomes a familiar feel. This does not last though, when the weekend comes. Saturday night the air is filled with anticipation, but also hesitation and a hint of suspicion. Sunday, tension. Monday, question. Tuesday, confrontation. The air of the room is thick with accusation and emotion. The room has become a silent battleground of subtle warfare and forced smiles. The magic dissipates and all that is left is an empty room. All that is left is a feeling of absence and an empty bag of tortilla chips.

the library

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The Waidner-Spahr library is the hub of campus in more ways than one. Its behemoth size and central location on campus make it hard to ignore, but it also serves as a space the facilitate the two predominant aspects of social life – socializing and studying. During orientation, the library had an earnest energy – first year students sat at computers or in arm chairs completing work for their seminars, relishing their first late-night college coffee from the bibliocafe. Many worked in groups, sacrificing the efficiency of solitary work for the comfort found in numbers in these early days. Library staff prepared for the rest of the student body to descend upon campus, ironing out technological kinks with the printers and setting up book displays in the lobby.
When classes started, the energy of the library transitioned into a quiet, purposeful bustle. The earnestness of the first years has been replaced by the experience of upperclassmen, who do not wander looking for a familiar face or peek down hallways looking for a secluded space to study. They already know the quietest study corners or the spaces with the best light for reading, and head right to their favorite spots upon entering the main doors. Some areas buzz with socializing, but most students work by themselves, comfortable with being alone in a way that younger students are not.
I feel at ease in the library. It is a place that fosters focus; a place where it is okay to be alone, where the need for silence is understood and shared by others.

The HUB

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When I first arrived on campus, I was quite surprised to observe how quiet and calm the HUB was. In a few short days, its quiet atmosphere become more vibrant as it bustled with people coming in and out for different events. I believe the HUB has changed not only because the upperclassmen have arrived and the campus population has increased, but also that the first year class has changed a great deal in the first week of school. The HUB’s quiet, subdued atmosphere reflected every first year student’s silent nervousness about being at college for the first time. Today, the entire atmosphere of the HUB has transformed because the first year class has transformed. Students now feel much more comfortable and less nervous about college. The quiet reserved conversations have become conversations full of laughter and shared interaction. It has been fascinating to observe the change in the HUB over a short period of time. I look forward to see the HUB’s atmosphere and first year students evolve over time.

The delicious transition

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The cafeteria room in the HUB building was, for the first couple days of orientation, packed to the rim with people, with lines extending long past the cashier. The sound of hundreds of people could be heard from outside, filled with excited conversation from the eager, but anxious first-year students. Most of these freshmen, if not all, were prepared for the day with a precise schedule, with a date for everything, including breakfast, lunch and dinner.

However, as the days went by, it became clear that these meals became less of rigidly-placed times of day, and more of casual meetings, set up whenever the students desired to eat. This was consistent with the rest of orientation, all into the beginning of the academic term itself. As we are making the transition from high school students to university scholars, we are becoming more independent. Thus, it has, and will even further, become true that we take control of our lives and schedules, even if it be simply for lunch.