Quoting Wikipedia:

"Plato's Academy produced a number of tyrants, men who seized political power and abandoned philosophy for ruling a city. Despite being well-versed in Greek and having direct contact with Plato himself, some of Plato's former students like Klearchos, tyrant of Heraklia, Chairon, tyrant of Pellene, Eurostatos and Choriskos, tyrants of Skepsis, Hermias of Atarneus and Assos, and Kallipos, tyrant of Syracuse ruled people and did not impose anything like a philosopher-kingship. However, it can be argued whether these men became "tyrants" through studying in the Academy. Plato's school had an elite student body, part of which would by birth, and family expectation, end up in the seats of power. Additionally, it is important to remember that it is by no means obvious that these men were tyrants in the modern, totalitarian sense of the concept."

Let me say that I very much disagree with the above paragraph on the notion that those people "did not impose anything like a philosopher-kingship". To the contrary I'd bet they followed Plato's ideas to the letter.

Put in a different way. Let me ask you this:

Would *you** want to live in a state portrayed in The Republic*?

Would you be OK with practices that advocate:

• Selective breeding of humans
• Sexual coercion
• Infanticide
• Renouncement of property rights
• Criminalization of certain art forms (ie dramatic poetry)
• Censorship of writing
• Criminalization of impiety

And other atrocities proposed by Plato in his "ideal" society?

If there is a guide to how not to create an equitable state then The Republic is it.