INTRODUCTION

Let me begin with an account of the three conceptions of rulers mentioned in the title of my chapter.

1. A Thrasymachean ruler (TR) is a ruler (a) who seeks his own benefit in ruling by taking advantage of the subject and (b) who, in virtue of his expertise of ruling, never errs in his pursuit of the aim of the ruling craft, which is to secure what is beneficial to the ruler by taking advantage of the subject.

2. An Altruistic ruler (AR) is a ruler (a) who seeks the benefit of his subject in ruling without regard to his own benefit and (b) who, in virtue of his expertise of ruling, never errs in his pursuit of the aim of the ruling craft, which is to secure what is beneficial to the subject without regard to the ruler's own benefit.

3. A Socratic ruler (SR) is an expert ruler (a) who seeks his own benefit in ruling and (b) who rules by pursuing the aim of the ruling craft, which is to command what is beneficial to the subject without regard to the ruler's own benefit.

As I see it, the crucial difference between a Thrasymachean ruler and an Altruistic ruler has to do with a ruler's psychological motive in ruling. While a Thrasymachean ruler is psychologically motivated to rule by his desire for his own benefit, an Altruistic ruler is motivated by his desire for the benefit of others. The two rulers differ further in the way each conceives of the goal of the ruling craft. Each takes the goal of the ruling craft to coincide exactly with his personal motive in ruling.