philosopher king
noun
the Platonic ideal of a ruler, philosophically trained and enlightened.
Origin of philosopher king
First recorded in 1920–25
Words nearby philosopher king
philoprogenitive,
philos.,
philosophaster,
philosophe,
philosopher,
philosopher king,
philosopher kings,
philosopher's stone,
philosopher-king,
philosophers' stone,
philosophes
British Dictionary definitions for philosopher kings
philosopher kings
pl n
(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
informal
any ideologically motivated elite