Plato’s Republic / John Mill’s “On Liberty”

Here is the paper prompt: Truth/knowledge is power. Speak truth to power. These, and related slogans, are popular notions, but how would each of the thinkers evaluate these statements? To fully answer this, consider the following questions. What is truth? How do we come to know truth? What are truths effects? What is power? How is power wielded? In other words, how is power related to politics? What are powers effects? Is there more than one kind of power? If so, what are the different kinds? Does truth have any influence on creating these distinctions of power? If so, how? If not, why not? What are the different kinds of relationships between truth and power? In other words, how do truth and power work upon each other? How does all of this relate to freedom? What is freedom? Is freedom possible? If freedom is not possible, what is the role of truth and/or power in creating this impossibility? If freedom is possible, what must be the relationship between truth and power in order to make it possible? Is there a connection between freedom and empowerment? Be sure to answer this prompt as each thinker would answer it and to compare and contrast all three thinkers ideas. In doing all of this, use each thinkers concepts and carefully define and explainas each thinker wouldeach of their key concepts (e.g., power, truth, freedom, etc.) that you use in your essay.

For this paper I basically have to answer the first line of the prompt and use the following questions after it to help me answer that question. I also have to include quotes. We read Plato’s “Republic” and John Mill’s “On Liberty” so those are the only sources I can use for this paper.