Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
How to Deal with the Tyrannical Teacher (Summer in the Republic 20)

How to Deal with the Tyrannical Teacher (Summer in the Republic 20)

Last updated on: June 24, 2018 at 7:52 pm by John Mark N. Reynolds

How to Deal with the Tyrannical Teacher (Summer in the Republic 20) 2018-06-24T19:52:51-04:00 John Mark N. Reynolds

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Work for a tyrant and if you survive, you learn a great deal, but at a cost. The tyrant has a plan, but it changes all the time. What does not change, whether it is Napoleon or the local boss man, is that the tyrant has a plan. The job of everyone else, citizen, worker, teacher, is to follow the plan or die, be terminated, go away.

What can be done with the tyrant?

A Christian cannot hate the tyrant: we love our enemies, so hate is out. A Christian might kill a tyrant, think Bonhoeffer and Hitler, but the local tyrant is no Hitler and murder is generally out. How can we best resist the tyrant? Better: is there a way to resist the tyrant that has hope of winning him over to justice?

Plato’s great work, Republic, is about education and one soul that is educated, civilized, is a tyrant. There is hope, as Christianity proves and Plato’s philosophy affirms even for the worst of leaders if they will change. How can we encourage this change?

In Republic, the great teacher Socrates is making progress with a difficult student, Polemarchus. Just as the conversation takes a promising turn, another teacher, a narcissistic attention grabber named Thrasymachus roars into action. He kills the good that is being done.

This the way of the tyrant educator: he is suave, until he is angry. He is avuncular until he starts firing everyone. He can tolerate mediocrities or syncophants, but let Socratic discourse begin with the danger that it will turn on his own ideas, and he is enraged. He must end it!

The tyranical leader, like Plato’s Thrasymachus, is into money and power. He will always strive to be The Boss and he will be well compensated for it. Plato called such men sophists and the “education” they sold for profit sophistry. The sophist loudly proclaims his love of wisdom, but does very, very well, by selling his cut-rate education. He credentials rather than educates.

Socrates in Republic is afraid of Thrasymachus for good reason. His reduction of education to power and money will corrupt the younglings and put Athens in peril.

The good news is that before Republic is half done, Thrasymachus has become a functional member of a better society. He has been tamed.

How?

That’s a long story, but the good news (see the beginning of Republic Book IV) is that it can be done. Have hope! The tyrannical educator, the man with the power, goes after Socrates forcefully. Here is his response:

I was thunderstruck and could hardly look at Thrasymachus without out trembling. Indeed, as in the proverb, I should have been speechless had I not already spotted this wolf before he saw me. In fact, I was watching him all the while his temper was waxing hot, and so I was able to reply.

Socrates is able to respond, because he has seen the tyrant coming. If you recognize the corruption of the narcissist, then when he yells and bullies, you are ready. Often the tyrant will brag to you about other times he has feigned anger to get his way. “I yelled at them and threatened them and then walked out . . . And. . . .” His “war stories” will be rich with bluff and bluster and he will telegraph this to you in his manner and in his own account.

The educational bully will be proud of this anger. How do you deal? You just respond. Note that Thrasymachus is so angry, so threatening, that Socrates can hardly look. That implies he does look. Be like Socrates: look. The Thrasymachus educator is generally insecure and must shout to cover for his lack of ideas. He fears a continued examination of his plans or ideas, because he is rootless. The only constancy in Thrasymachus will be a lust for money and power.

An out of control leader is frightening, but keep in the discussion. Ask questions. Challenge his assumptions. Don’t respond in kind. The tyrant leader is the master of insult, firings, humiliation. He cannot handle calm, dialectical examination of his plans, prognosis, or principles.

Be like Socrates: reply.

Why?

Thrasymachus too can be civilized and become a friend.

———————————————-

*I begin an informal summer reading of Republic using Scott/Sterling (a new translation for me). Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4. Part 5. Part 6. Part 7. Part 8. Part 9. Part 10. Part 11. Part 12. Part 13. Part 14. Part 15. Part 16. Part 17. Part 18. Part 19. Part 20.

Previous Post

June 23, 2018

In Politics and Any Kind of Leadership: Beware the Beast Man (Summer in the Republic 19)

Next Post

June 25, 2018 Bellowing is not Good (Summer in the Republic 21)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Apologetics Art Culture Education On Books On Education Philosophy Politics Pop Culture Spiritual Reflections Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 July 2025 June 2025 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 December 2023 June 2023 September 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

At my dedication prayer, fire came down from heaven and God's glory filled the house.

Select your answer to see how you score.

The prophet's home The tabernacle The temple The Palace

Books by This Author John Mark Reynolds

See All Titles »