philosopher king

noun

1. the Platonic ideal of a ruler, philosophically trained and enlightened.

philosopher-king

1. In the Republicby Plato , the ideal ruler, who has the virtue and wisdom of a philosopher.

Word History and Origins

Origin of philosopher king¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

At nChain’s London offices, Dr. Wright, an Australian computer scientist, was treated as a sort of philosopher king.

From New York Times

Later he emerged as a kind of philosopher king of the postwar nuclear era, publicly opposing the development of the hydrogen bomb and becoming a symbol both of America’s technological genius and of its conscience.

From New York Times

And it only stands to reason that the poet laureate/philosopher king of the NFL, Marshawn Lynch, provided the best perspective.

From Seattle Times

He’s not only, well, as of a week ago, a multibillionaire crypto entrepreneur; he’s also this philosopher king who signs on to these very crypto-friendly ideologies like effective altruism.

From Slate

Looking to his past and sketching his future, it is intended as the magnum opus of a figure the composer Michael Gordon has called “the philosopher king of percussion music.”

From New York Times