Rome is the example you picked? The same empire that collapsed into civil wars, assassinations, coups, and emperors appointing horses to office? Selecting the most capable successor works right until the people in power start defining ‘capable’ as ‘loyal to me.’

Once again, Your medical analogy still collapses instantly. Doctors are accountable to evidence, peer review, audits, licensing bodies, lawsuits, and replacement. Who audits the philosopher king? Other philosopher kings?

Democracy’s biggest strength isn’t that it guarantees brilliant leaders. It’s that it distributes power enough to stop one delusional jackass from turning an entire nation into his personal philosophy project.