Julia Annas and Terence Irwin both argue that the philosopher-ruler's return to the cave demonstrates that contemplative knowledge and civic virtue are functionally unified, not separate happiness-candidates.
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Julia Annas(as the main philosopher referenced in this statement)
A contemporary philosopher who specializes in ancient Greek ethics and virtue; she argues that virtues are deeply interconnected rather than separate qualities.
Philosopher-ruler(as a concept from Plato's Republic)
In Plato's ideal society, a leader who has studied philosophy and wisdom deeply enough to understand the true nature of reality, making them the best suited to govern justly.
Return to the cave(as Plato's metaphor about knowledge and duty)
A reference to Plato's famous allegory where prisoners chained in a cave see only shadows, and a freed prisoner returns to help others—it represents a philosopher returning from abstract knowledge to help society.
Terence Irwin(as a scholar interpreting Plato's ideas)
A leading scholar of ancient Greek philosophy who has written extensively about Plato and Aristotle's views on knowledge, virtue, and the good life.
knowledge(Distinguished from mere true belief, which may be the product of indoctrination and need not exercise deliberative capacities.)
Justified true belief — true belief that has been arrived at through the exercise of deliberative capacities, including comparison of and deliberation among alternatives.