The Intelligent Troglodyte’s Guide to Plato’s Republic, 2016a

35 Private Property, Private Interests
See 415d-417b. Socrates warns that if the auxiliaries and their leaders the
guardians were to “acquire private land, houses, and currency” they would become
“household managers and farmers instead of guardians – hostile masters of the
other citizens, instead of their allies.” His thought is that private property would
encourage private interests, interests independent from and potentially in conflict
with those of the city as a whole. (Compare this to the idea behind celibacy for the
Roman Catholic priesthood.) The guardians are to be concerned for the city’s
welfare with minimal distractions, and without the temptation to use public power
for private gain.
In what respect, and to what extent, does money corrupt politics?
Should modern politicians be required to renounce wealth?
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