What makes a good leader?

[Tanya Voytus]

Your GoogleGroup post is due Sunday, December 11, @ 3:00PM.

Write about what a good leader is in your opinion. Take into account
all we have been talking about with Plato's Allegory of the Cave.
Remember, in the dialogue, Socrates tells that a good leader must be
someone who has seen the truth of the world of the forms, and yet is
still willing to forge back into the cave to lead and attempt to
enlighten his fellow man. Do you agree with this? What are the
characteristics that a leader needs? What are the characteristics that
a leader definitely should not have?

I look forward to reading these on Sunday.

Have a great weekend!

Ms. V.

[pj weindorf]

A good leader Is someone who can Control there people and be stern,
stern but fair

[Tanya Voytus]

I'm interested in more, PJ. What does it mean to be fair? What is it to be stern and why is it a necessity for a good leader?

Keep going,

Ms. V.

[pj weindorf]

To be fair in my opinion is basically an eye for an eye tooth for
tooth and to be stern is too know what is good and to know what is bad
like if something people knew would cause them to out-roar and kill
each other that leader shold not tell them not to keep them in the
darkness but to protect them without a filter im sure things would be
much worse and im sure some of the things we don't know should never
be known by the general public IE; if it was said by the government
9/11 was a inside job im sure that would cause a riot of epic
proportion across the entire united states and create total chaos
throughout the world which would slowly lead to a world wide dilemma.
Some people should stay in the cave some should wonder out not
everyone should though the ones that do wonder outside the caves will
have knowledge and with that power then cause cause great fear or
great wisdom and enlightenment .

On Dec 11, 7:16 pm, Tanya Voytus <ms.voy...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm interested in more, PJ. What does it mean to be fair? What is it to be
> stern and why is it a necessity for a good leader?
>
> Keep going,
>
> Ms. V.

[Tanya Voytus]

That's more like it! Excellent post.

I'm really impressed with what you said about how sometimes a leader needs to keep his citizens in the dark - " some people need to stay in the cave" as it were. Nietzsche, a prominent 20th century philosopher, talks about the übermench - or overman. He believes that some men are made to lead and others are like sheep and made to follow.

Great job, PJ.

Ms. V.

[Nethera]

A good leader is someone who will do what's best for his or her people no matter what it is they have to do. I think that to be a good leader you have to put your pride aside and look at what people really need from you.

[Tanya Voytus]

Interesting assessment, Christine. What do you think about the needs / wants of the people vs. the needs of the state? Are they always aligned or could there be times that the leader has to choose between the two? If there are, what should he do?

Great thinking,

Ms. V.

[Dylan]

Sorry for responding late, but I think a good leader is one who can stand up for what he/she believes in without sway from outside influence. They should be able to make decisions even in the most difficult of times. They should have the motivation to continue without doubt. They should have confindece in their opinion and not make a decision unless they truly believe in their choice. Not only should a leader do what's best for the groups wellbeing, but they should also have the ability to take responsibility when at fault and admit when they are wrong. If they cannot handle pressure, no need to be a leader. If they cannot handle themselves, they cannot lead a group. This leader must not abuse their authority, and must become somewhat of a 'tyrant'. They must put the group before other. This is what a leader must be. 

[Tanya Voytus]

Great job, Dylan. I'm impressed with your insight concerning how difficult and humbling it must be to be a true good leader. Do you think someone who has seen the world of the true forms would be more adept at being able to admit when they're wrong? Or do you think it would be more difficult for them since they have had a peek at Truth?

Nice post,

Ms. V.

[Dylan]

Admitting to being wrong is a very difficult thing. Many people who have created a set of ideas (morals, values, ethics) they usually are going to stick to what they believe even when proven wrong, therefore it is a lot harder to admitt their faults. It must take a true WISE individual.

[Tanya Voytus]

Well said. So I assume you're saying that one who has seen the world of the forms would be so wise?

[Dylan]

Perhaps. I don't really have a definate answer.....The only reason holding me back is, one who has seen all truth may have a mindset that he or she is always right, but what happens when proven wrong? Would they admitt to it or say, no I know all, therefore I am correct not you.

[Tanya Voytus]

Knowledge is a dangerous thing. One would hope that someone with that pure type of knowledge would see the benefits of humility but we never know...

[Dylan]

Hmm, I like the idea of 'humility'. So humor me here: Let's say that within the mind of a priest, he formulates that god is the ultimate creator and so on. One day a scientist comes along and says, "hey, god is imaginary, I don't see this god above our planet, where is he? Above us is the ozone layer and above that, the moon, stars and planets. So where's this god", now the priest feels humiliated because science disproves this 'god', well does this mean he is wrong? No, it's his view on the world. So is humility something that is opionionated? Depending on ones beliefs?   

[Tanya Voytus]

I think humility may have to do with accepting the fact that there are different world views. A humble person should be able to accept that there is no "right answer". But that's just me. What do you think?

[Dylan]

Not quite sure how I feel on this yet, I'll get back to you on the humility piece. But I am on the app store and found so many philosophy book! I'm so excited to read them and pretend like I know what I'm talking about in class. Otherwise, if your willing, could you sit with me at break tomorrow? I won't be in class in afternoon, i have doctors at 1:15.