The Ideal Leader: A Philosopher King

As elections are happening/approaching in different parts of the world, there could be no better time to explore the idea of the Ideal Leader. Being a good leader entails more than just wielding power.

Marcus Aurelius, the renowned Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, taught that the finest ruler should embody the qualities of both a philosopher and a sovereign. One of his celebrated quotes states:

“The ruler must be a philosopher as well as a king; and he must govern unwillingly, because he loves philosophy better than dominion.”

This quote gives us an important idea about what makes a good leader. Let’s look closer at what it means and how it can help leaders today.

Marcus Aurelius says the ideal ruler is not someone who just wants power. Instead, they should approach leading with the mindset of a philosopher. A philosopher values wisdom, doing the right thing, and learning the truth above everything else. This goes along with Marcus Aurelius’ philosophy of stoicism, which emphasizes using reason, being virtuous, and caring about the greater good.

Although philosophers are often perceived by the public as highly delusional individuals detached from reality, in the case of Stoicism, the opposite is true. Stoicism instills a sense of practicality and grounds one’s moral perspective in reality, deriving virtues based on rational and pragmatic principles.