A Tale of Two Republics

Stoicism's case against autocracy

The Republic is a seminal work on political theory and philosophy by Plato, a student of Socrates, created in Greece around 375 BCE. It explores many topics including the ideal state, the meaning of justice, and the relationship between the individual and the state.

Its influence on Western thoughts and civilization is perhaps without parallel. As Alfred North Whitehead, a distinguished 20th-century mathematician and philosopher, said, “All of Western philosophy is a footnote to Plato.”

Plato’s Republic looks at several forms of government, including aristocracy (ruled by the privileged), timocracy (ruled by the wealthy), oligarchy (ruled by a small group however they attain that power), democracy (ruled by the people), and autocracy (ruled by absolute despot).

Plato, using Socrates as a mouthpiece in the dialogue, does not necessarily promote one of the above over the other, but talks about the ideal state being one ruled by a philosopher king, which, although described as a Utopia, would at best be a benevolent dictator or beneficent autocracy. ^[1]

Zeno of Citium was the founder of Stoic philosophy. His earliest known work and foundational treaties, the Republic, created around 300 BCE, was written in direct response and in opposition to Plato’s book of the same name.

Zeno’s Republic has been lost. However, fragments still exist, and the prominent followers of Stoicism and others, like Plutarch, reference it and its concepts, giving us an excellent guide to its key concepts and ideas, especially as they relate to the ideal state.

It is essential to start by saying that Zeno’s Republic promoted an ideal, something to strive to attain. In many ways, it was significantly ahead of its time in concepts that were not realized in some cases for thousands of years later and others yet to be attained.

Society

This was the genesis of the Stoic concept of Cosmopolitanism. All citizens, regardless of gender or economic condition, racial or ethnic group, shared common rights and privileges superior to the city-state as envisioned by Plato.

Whereas Plato’s Republic was about supporting the elite ruling class by the “producers,” the main point of Zeno’s Republic was that society itself should exist for the common good and, therefore, be much more egalitarian. This concept is the backbone of Democracies as originated in Athens, under Cleisthenes. 

This concept and Stoicism heavily influenced John Locke, one of the most influential Enlightenment philosophers, who heavily influenced the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. ^[2] Many concepts of equality, resistance to tyranny, and individual liberties can be seen carried on from Zeno’s concepts to the founding of the United States.

Spiritualism

In Plato’s Republic, there is a concept called the Noble Lie, in which religion promotes the elite ruling class and explains why the people should support them. One of the most influential philosophers of the 20th Century, Karl Popper, wrote in The Open Society and its Enemies, “Religion for Plato is a Noble Lie.” 

In Zeno’s Republic, God was everywhere and everything. My father told me that Stoics believed that God isn’t the watchmaker but the watch itself. So, the universe (or the many universes') is God, often termed as pantheism. The Stoics viewed nature as a manifestation of the divine order. Living in harmony with nature was also seen as a way to align oneself with God.

Service

In Plato’s Republic, service is a sacred duty and an important component of the ideal state. It is, however, mostly limited to the elite ruling classes of the Philosopher King and the Guardians  (a warrior class whose primary purpose is to protect the state itself and its leadership) and loyalty is attached primarily to preserve them. Education is also mainly limited to the Guardians and the ruling elite.

Everyone else in society is called the Producers. They do all the essential tasks of a society: the businesspersons, the essential services of a city, the farmers, shepherds, etc. They are there to support the state but do not hold political office or are given the same educational opportunities as the ruling class and guardians. Service is not expected of them either.

Regarding Zeno’s Republic and its view of service, I believe he (and Stoics in general) elevated it to the noblest of actions and held it as everyone’s responsibility. The concepts of Cosmopolitanism and Equality discussed above essentially require service not only to your immediate community but the global community. That requirement was also the same for men and women, which at the time was revolutionary.

The ultimate aim of Stoicism is to achieve Eudaimonia (the good life achieved by good deeds) and Arete (being the most effective in life by virtuous acts). And for Zeno and all future Stoics, these are achieved by the cardinal virtues of Courage, Wisdom, Justice, and Self Disciple. All critical components of service to your fellow human beings in society.

So, although both Republics aim to create an ideal state, they differ in who is included in leadership and political power. One is essentially a benevolent dictator who uses religion as political power, what I would refer more accurately to as the Ignoble Lie.

Zeno instead promotes equality between genders, races, and economic classes and envisions a global democracy. It could be called an Aspirational Utopia (meaning that even if society can never reach it, it is better to try).

Of course, this scares many people. Perhaps ironically, the same people who are completely opposed to immigration and lean toward xenophobia are, shall we say, Zeno-phobic as well. 

The conversation about what political systems are best for society is as relevant today as ever and has not changed substantially in many ways.

There is a concerning trend toward autocracy in many countries today, described so well in Anne Applebaum’s book Autocracy Inc. The rise of authoritarian regimes threatens democracies and the values they have long represented.  Leaders such as Vladimir Putin in Russia and Xi Jinping in China have consolidated power and weakened democratic institutions in their respective countries. They have also inspired others to follow their example.

The lack of a clear leader of the free world, the indecision and hesitation to push back against aggression such as the invasion of Ukraine, only inspire further aggression and more world leaders to seek to emulate their actions, hoping, if not knowing, that there will be no unity in opposition to their actions. Key Democratic alliances, such as NATO, have become even more important with the rise in active and aggressive autocracies.

Even the United States, the oldest continuous democracy in the world and largely considered the leader of the free world, has seen challenges recently. A substantial percentage of Americans (72% to be exact) now believe their country is not a good representation of democracy and are turning increasingly toward an isolationist stance and away from Americans traditional role in the world. ^{[3] [4]}

And if one believes the concerns about this surge toward autocracy are overstated and the fact that this conversation about what society is best for the future of mankind is antiquated, one should read the Pew Research article on the topic.

Thirty-two percent of Americans, twenty-seven percent of Canadians, and thirty-seven percent of the UK citizens support a change in their country where an authoritarian leader or the military would be in charge. And the percentages get higher in democracies outside of the western hemisphere. ^[5]

The discussion needs to promote democracy, which needs to happen in earnest now, not after major civil strife or another war between those who strive to live in a version of Zeno’s Republic and those who don’t. 

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About the Author

Michael “Mick” Patrick Mulroy is a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East, a retired CIA officer, an Analyst for ABC News, on the board of directors for Grassroots Reconciliation Group, a co-founder of End Child Soldiering, and the co-founder of the Lobo Institute. He writes and speaks often on Stoicism and is on the board of Plato’s Academy Center and the Aurelius Foundation.

For other publications please visit here.

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^[1] Historically the closest approximation to a Philosopher King was Marcus Aurelius, a Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher.

^[2] Hill, Lisa & Nidumolu, Prasanna (2021). The influence of classical Stoicism on John Locke’s theory of self-ownership. History of the Human Sciences 34 (3-4):3-24.

^[3] 72% of Americans say the U.S. used to be a good example of democracy but isn’t anymore. BY JANELL FETTEROLFANDSOFIA HERNANDEZ RAMONES. Pew Research Center, July 10, 2024. Click here to view.

^[4] Election 2024: Are Americans Turning Isolationist? Council on Foreign Relations, ​​ James M. Lindsay, March 22, 2024.  Click here to view.

^[5] Who likes authoritarianism, and how do they want to change their government?

BYLAURA SILVERANDJANELL FETTEROLF, Pew Research, February 28, 2024.