TED-Ed

Dig into Plato’s infamous Ship of State thought experiment, which explores how democratic societies handle leadership and power.

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Imagine a ship struggling in an endless storm. Its captain, though strong and commanding, is a terrible navigator. Neither he nor his crew have been trained to sail, yet they tirelessly vie for control through bribery, flattery, and mutiny, and ignore those with real navigation knowledge. This dysfunctional vessel is Plato's Ship of State. Michael Vazquez explores the infamous thought experiment.

Lesson by Michael Vazquez, directed by Luis Torres, Mr. Flama.

This video was produced in collaboration with the Parr Center for Ethics, housed within the renowned Philosophy Department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Parr Center is committed to integrating abstract work in ethical theory with the informed discussion of practical ethical issues, and prides itself on the development of innovative and inclusive approaches to moral and civic education.

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View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/platos-infamous-ship-of-state-thought-experiment-michael-vazquez
Dig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/platos-infamous-ship-of-state-thought-experiment-michael-vazquez/digdeeper

Animator's website: https://mrflama.com
Music: https://soundcloud.com/aim-music
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