# Who would you choose as benevolent dictator or philosopher king today? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 28, 2011, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582 "2011-12-28T01:19:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582/21 "2011-12-28T14:44:15Z")
> [@Latro](#): > > How about a kind of intermediate? > A senate composed of educated, intelligent people, instead of the political creatures. You don’t get it. The problem with the Senate we have now is not lack of intelligence/education. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582/22 "2011-12-28T14:58:43Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Of course, if we’re gonna do this Plato’s way, we’re gonna have to **breed** and **train** our philosopher-kings. In a cloistered, ivory-tower environment. That is what happened to the Kims in Korea. They have been told they are Nietszche’s Ubermensch and above concepts like human morality. The end result was just a family of sociopaths. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582/23 "2011-12-28T15:16:55Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > That is what happened to the Kims in Korea. They have been told they are Nietszche’s Ubermensch and above concepts like human morality. The end result was just a family of sociopaths. Oh, the Kims just haven’t been properly indoctrinated with Platonic philosophy. Teach them lots of geometry and tell them about the Cave, they’ll be all right. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582/24 "2011-12-28T18:26:29Z")
The person I’d choose is the same person I hope that [Americans Elect](http://www.americanselect.org/) ends up choosing for president: Jon Stewart I know he’s no lawyer, nor some politician who understands how the ins and outs of Washington works, but he’s something that I believe is very underrated in a leader: he’s a comedian. To be funny, really funny not just Dennis Miller “funny”, you have to have a level of introspection and the ability to objectively look at a situation in order to point out its absurdities. Comedians do that, that’s ALL they do. The good ones can make fun of themselves just as easily as someone else because they can see what is funny about an issue that everyone else takes for granted. Introspection, something our last president wasn’t very big on, is to me a huge criteria in a good leader. Every man needs to be able to step back once in a while and evaluate themselves and doubt, yes doubt, their own decisions and reasoning and get other opinions. I’d rather a man be able to doubt himself than charge forward confident in his own abilities. If its one thing sure about humans, its that all of us make bad decisions sometimes. Better someone who can catch them than the traditional stupid American full of bluster about the indestructibility of his own individualism. That said, I also think he’s very smart, or at least with the help of his writers he is. During his debates, even I want him to call out the bastard conservatives sometimes, but he rarely does it in a way that makes them confrontational. He’s open to new ideas. He makes great insightful points that cut to the heart of the matter. And he’s a good person, witness how he shamed Congress into helping out the 9/11 first responders, or the way he tried to have the first political rally to bring people together and restore sanity. This is a guy who gets it ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582/25 "2011-12-28T18:32:49Z")
> [@j666](#): > > it would have to be a man, so prevent the accusations of being too easily manipulated by his advisors. Sexist much? :rolleyes: I’m for Alice Walker. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582/26 "2011-12-28T20:20:51Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > Sexist much? :rolleyes: Comes with the Plato. (Who was a raging feminist by Classical Greek standards, but, still . . .) ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582/27 "2011-12-29T00:10:35Z")
I would choose a pentumvirate made up of Eleanor Clift, Clarence Page, Monica Crowley, Pat Buchanan, and John McLaughlin, and not allow them to pass any new legislation without unanimous consent among them. Then sit back and watch the gridlock. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582/28 "2011-12-29T00:21:37Z")
Lewis Black ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582/29 "2011-12-29T00:31:04Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > Lewis Black Seconded! Hail Lewis I! ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582/30 "2011-12-29T00:48:12Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > Sexist much? :rolleyes: > > I’m for Alice Walker. Read much? Not “prevent”, but to “prevent the _ **accusation** _” Doesn’t Alice Walker have better things to do? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582/31 "2011-12-29T01:29:16Z")
> [@j666](#): > > Doesn’t Alice Walker have better things to do? Look at it that way, **all** intellectuals and artists have better things to do than govern. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582/32 "2011-12-29T01:34:16Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > The person I’d choose is the same person I hope that [Americans Elect](http://www.americanselect.org/) ends up choosing for president: Jon Stewart > > I know he’s no lawyer, nor some politician who understands how the ins and outs of Washington works…This is a guy who gets it Agreed. . ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582/33 "2011-12-29T01:37:09Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > The person I’d choose is the same person I hope that [Americans Elect](http://www.americanselect.org/) ends up choosing for president: Jon Stewart > > I know he’s no lawyer, nor some politician who understands how the ins and outs of Washington works, but he’s something that I believe is very underrated in a leader: he’s a comedian. [It’s been done . . .](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_of_the_Year_(2006_film)) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582/34 "2011-12-29T01:42:04Z")
Samuel L. Jackson. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582/35 "2011-12-29T01:59:45Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Samuel L. Jackson. What’s his philosophy? ---
**Author:** ![Seratiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/48db29/32.png) [@Seratiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seratiel)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582/36 "2011-12-29T02:44:33Z")
Hiya, The very question posed by the debate is a problem in answering. The reason being is that those who most people would want to take the job never would. And those that seek the job are the wrong people in the first place. And especially when your putting such import on philosophy. Most philosophers are so wrapped up in theoretical problem solving they miss the human interaction and day to day life around them. There is an old saying, that a person can be extremely intelligent but have no “common sense” whatsoever. In my view no philosopher would make a good leader. It requires practicality, empathy, and common ground with your people. Therefore the perfect candidate in my view, is a triumvirate, like the romans had. But pick a rich person a poor person and 1 in between at random. The only stipulation being they have a IQ so they can make their own decisions based on evidence and advice provided by specialists, but the balls to make the decisions on their own free will. Probably as close as I can get would be Bill Gates, + Aung San Suu Kyi, + Any Black police/army/navy/air force officer above the rank of sergeant who came from a deprived area. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582/37 "2011-12-29T03:06:23Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > What’s his philosophy? Get rid of the fucking snakes! ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582/38 "2011-12-29T03:20:27Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > Sexist much? :rolleyes: > > I’m for Alice Walker. > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Look at it that way, **all** intellectuals and artists have better things to do than govern. Right, so let’s get some-one just smart enough to recognize really smart people and charming enough to sucker them into helping. Hmm, a Dream-Team Cabinet for our Benevolent Dictator. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582/39 "2011-12-29T03:23:49Z")
My candidates – Matt Parker and Trey Stone can serve as alternate dictators. They wouldn’t even take the job seriously, so they probably wouldn’t be too dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582/40 "2011-12-29T03:28:11Z")
Really now, was there any other choice? [Lord Havelock Vetinari](http://wiki.lspace.org/wiki/Havelock_Vetinari). > [@](#): > > It was his discovery that people only really want stability and that tomorrow should pretty much resemble today, and this has been his greatest contribution to Ankh-Morpork. Impressively, he manages to keep this up even while he drags Ankh-Morpork, sometimes kicking and screaming, into the future. It is said that Vetinari can accomplish more with irony than most others can with steel. He can also accomplish more with one raised eyebrow than most people can with two of them and a lifetime of practice. 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582.md?page=3)