Philosophy and Leadership: The Path to True Authority

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Shane Mulhall, and you're all very welcome. The title of tonight's talk is "Philosophy and Leadership," and the subtitle, "Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way," was a quote from J.R. Ewing of the "Dallas" series. He said it a little more aggressively than I have, but I thought it had interesting possibilities.

Tonight's talk is about leadership at all levels: at the level of the state, the community, business organizations, the family, and, perhaps most importantly, at the level of the individual—leading yourself. The individual is a state in miniature, and what applies to the state also applies to the individual and vice versa. Ultimately, leadership isn't about others leading us; it's about how we lead our own lives.

Because the human being is a complex organism with many parts, there's a need for leadership within ourselves. For example, do we recognize being at war with ourselves? The body is tired and wants to stay in bed, the mind appreciates the need to go to work, and the heart would just like to be free of all responsibilities. Because of this inner conflict between the body, mind, and heart, there's a need for self-management.

We can be led from outside, or we can lead ourselves. True command should come from within, resulting in voluntary, not enforced, right action. Self-government is the highest form of government, and this is only possible when a person is wise. Otherwise, we can be led by pleasure (in the body), false opinion (in the mind), or selfish emotions (in the heart) to live a miserable and insignificant life.

So, when we're talking about leadership of a state, remember that we're also talking about the individual leading their own life in relation to their self, family, career, friendships, and citizenship. The challenge tonight is to consider how the content of this talk can be brought into our lives in a practical and useful way.

Plato's Perspective on Leadership

We will first turn to Plato to see what he says about leadership. He states, "We must not entrust the government in your state to anyone because he is rich or because he possesses any other advantage such as strength or stature or again birth. But he who is most obedient to the laws of the state, he shall win the palm."

For example, we wouldn't allow someone to fly a plane, especially one we were in, simply because they were rich, or their parents used to fly planes, or because they were good-looking or charismatic. In the same way, people should not rule any entity based on these factors. Plato believes the most important quality for a good leader is their obedience to the laws of the state.

A little later in the same book, Plato says, "And when I call the rulers servants or ministers of the law, I give them this name not for the sake of novelty, but because I certainly believe that upon such service or ministry depends the well or ill being of the state." He continues, "For that state in which the law is subject and has no authority, I perceive to be on the highway to ruin. But I see that the state in which the law is above the rulers, and the rulers are the inferiors of the law, has salvation and every blessing which the gods can confer."

According to Plato, a true leader is under authority—the authority of the law. There's also the famous statement by John Acton, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." So the question for us is, what law guides our decisions and actions? What authority do we live under?

A true leader is a follower—a follower of truth or wisdom. To follow wisdom, one must be wise, so there can be no true leadership without wisdom. When we express opinions on important matters, it's a good question to ask ourselves: "What is my authority for such an opinion?" Is it simply what I think or what I prefer? Is it based on some previous experience, or does it have the authority of reason, love, law, scripture, or the words of the wise?

Plato goes further than just obeying the laws of the state. Marsilio Ficino, in one of his letters, quotes Plato as saying, "Just as without man, one beast cannot be successfully and rightly guided by another beast, so without God, man cannot be guided by man." Perhaps we also cannot truly guide our lives without God.

The word "prime minister" means "first servant." Therefore, the leader is the greatest follower of that country. Leadership is a life of following. So again, when we live our lives, what are we following? Leadership is a life of service. In truth, we don't lead to command, but to serve. We don't lead to have dominion or power over others, but to care for those who need care. Whether at the level of the state or the individual, what we're interested in is the true happiness of those we lead.

The Five Types of Leaders According to Plato

Plato identifies five types of leaders, which are in sequential decline. Remember, what applies to the state also applies to us as individuals. The democrat, the tyrant, or the aristocrat could be ruling within us. You may be surprised to hear that democracy is the second-lowest form of leadership, ranking slightly ahead of tyranny. Plato sets these out in their pure form so they become self-evident.

1. Aristocracy: The Rule of the Best

This is not aristocracy as we typically know it. It is not inherited. Aristocracy means the rule of the best—the rule of the wise person. This is the highest form of leadership. It is rule by one who is himself ruled by truth. Therefore, there is no inner turmoil or internal divisions. He is at peace with himself, and true to himself. He leads for all, which creates unity in the state. Such a person does not seek leadership but responds to a request to lead.

2. Timocracy: The Rule of Power and Honor

These rulers are lovers of power and honor. According to Plato, they are uncultured but fond of culture. They are ambitious and contentious. They despise riches when young but are fond of them when old. We see this inner conflict between virtue and greed. There is a mixture of the rational and the passionate, making it difficult to act. This state is ruled by a few, not by one. Just as there is disunity in the individual, there is also some disunity in the state.

3. Oligarchy: The Rule of Wealth

In this state, the individual is ruled by wealth. The rich have the power, and the poor have none. As riches are honored, virtue is dishonored. There are two states in one: the rich and the poor, who are always conspiring against one another. The love of money leads to an unwillingness to pay taxes, and Plato argues that moneylending leads to poverty, and with poverty comes criminality. In the individual, the oligarch suppresses his desires not with reason, but out of fear of spending money. He is at war with himself, with virtue and desire actively fighting each other.

4. Democracy: The Rule of Freedom and Pleasure

The love of wealth and the spirit of moderation cannot coexist. In a democracy, the care is only for money and the pleasure it buys. Leaders are now elected by common vote, and wisdom is outvoted. Actions are not based on principle but on pros and cons. The democratic individual does and says as he likes. For him, all modes of life are equal, so there is no respect for institutions, leaders, elders, or teachers. The democratic person rejects all advice, and all pleasures are alike. Plato predicted that in a democracy, fathers would fear sons, teachers would fear students, and leaders would fear the people. He also said that anarchy is called freedom and waste is called magnificence. This pursuit of personal freedom and neglect of the law leads to anarchy.

5. Tyranny: The Rule of Fear and Control

Anarchy cannot last long, and with that, you get the tyrant, because in the end, people will accept any law rather than no law. The tyrant starts as a "protector" who promises to rebuild the nation but soon develops into a tyrant. He is not free himself but is a slave to his desires or ideas. He becomes a fanatic, blind to reason and love, and in the end, he destroys himself.

Leading Ourselves: The Inner Aristocrat

Each of these leader types exists within each one of us. At any point in time, one of them is operating.

• When the aristocrat rules in us, we are ruled by the best within us: reason or love. Our interest is truth itself.

• When the timocrat rules in us, we are interested in power and honor.

• When the oligarch rules in us, we are ruled by wealth.

• When the democrat rules in us, we are ruled by desires, particularly the desire for personal freedom. We are ruled by our "rights" as opposed to our "duties."

• With the rise of anarchy in us, the tyrant emerges. Here, we do not rule but are ruled. We become fanatics, addicted to our ideas.

So, how do we develop the true aristocrat within us? As Shakespeare said, "To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man."

In practical terms, this means always looking to the highest authority. The body should be ruled by measure, not pleasure. The mind should be ruled by reason, not by thoughts, opinions, and prejudices. The heart should be ruled by love, not by feelings of anger, greed, or envy. Measure, reason, and love are the highest authorities for the body, mind, and heart. All of this serves truth and wisdom and leads to consistency in thought, word, and deed.

The Qualities of a True Leader What are the qualities of a true leader?

• Self-Mastery: "He that would govern others should be the master of himself."

• Integrity: There should be no difference between the leader's words and deeds. If there is a difference, the words will be lost and the misdeeds will be copied.

• Abundance of Energy: A leader must be able to conserve and produce energy through discipline and knowledge.

• Decisiveness: He makes decisions and does not procrastinate. He evaluates the situation based on true principle, makes a decision, and accepts responsibility for the outcome.

• Lack of Fear or Doubt: He entertains no fears and no doubts.

• Rational Ingenuity: He knows that laws are universal but their application is particular. He must be able to apply the law intelligently and find innovative solutions.

• Leading by Example: A leader must live a measured and disciplined life.

• Vision: He looks deep into the present moment and sees all the possibilities and potentialities. He does not simply imagine the future.

• Humility: If he has greatness, he does not claim it. He must have nothing to do with pride.

How a Leader Leads A leader leads by:

• Purity of Thought and Enthusiasm: The truth is the only thing that matters, and a leader must have the enthusiasm to implement those thoughts.

• Treating Everyone as Your Own Self: Everyone is treated as your own self, with no favorites.

• Putting Forward the Ideal: A leader does not abandon the ideal but makes it practical. As Pandit Nehru said, "We were not great men, but we aspired to great ideals. And this made us into great men."

• Leading From Behind: A real leader leads like a shepherd, who walks behind the flock. The leader sets the direction, and the followers set the pace.

• Winning Trust: Without faith in you, people cannot follow you.

What is NOT Leadership? True leadership is not:

• The pursuit of ambition, power, gain, or fame.

• Non-decision making through over-democratization or procrastination.

• Preferential treatment of followers

• Considering yourself superior; there is equality of being, but inequality of function.

• The refusal to delegate.

• Thinking that a system can replace the need for leadership.

• Compromise and expediency that replace true principle.

Conclusion: Becoming a Natural Aristocrat

The solution for our lives and our country is to become a natural aristocracy. A great Irishman, Edmund Burke, once described a natural aristocracy as those who are "bred in a place of estimation," "taught to respect oneself," and have a "large view of the widespread and infinitely diversified combinations of men and affairs." They are the "leading, guiding and governing part" of society.

Ultimately, there is no point in looking for others to lead us to truth. We must lead ourselves. To lead ourselves is to become wise, to become a natural aristocrat. Everyone in this room has a natural aristocrat residing in them. It must be honored, fed, and developed. Good company, the words of the wise, and meditation will allow this natural aristocrat to flourish in all of us. Without the development of natural aristocracy, our lives will not be fulfilled, and true leadership will not rule our country.

Thank you.