philosopher kings

plural noun

1. (in the political theory of Plato) the elite whose education has given them true knowledge of the Forms and esp of the Form of the Good, thus enabling them alone to rule justly
2. informal.
   any ideologically motivated elite

Example Sentences

While “personnel reforms” are meant “to restore ‘balance’ to the court and in that sense return it to its place ‘above politics,’” Doerfler said, "disempowering reforms" are meant to address the problem of "being governed by philosopher kings," which cannot entirely be solved by making them less excessively "partisan."

From Salon

Mark Joseph Stern: So I have a pet theory that trial court judges have a baseline of competence that is all too often missing among the philosopher Kings and Queens of the appellate courts.

From Slate

Because ultimately concerns for “legitimacy”—not empirical measurements of it, or scrutiny for where it was lost, but free-floating, abstract institutional feelings-ball—trumps placing even modest limits on our philosopher kings.

From Slate

Plato thought this power too consequential to be entrusted to poets, whom he would ban from his ideal republic, leaving the politics of representation in the hands of philosopher kings.

From Los Angeles Times

Courts are the least democratic branch of government to begin with; judges are like robed “philosopher kings” with the power to overturn measures overwhelmingly favored by the people.

From The Guardian