What is the meaning of Socrate's comparison of society to a ship?

The Ship of State is a famous and oft-cited metaphor put forth by Plato in Book VI of the Republic (488a–489d). It likens the governance of a city-state to the command of a naval vessel and ultimately argues that the only people fit to be captain of this ship (Greek) are philosopher kings, benevolent men with absolute power who have access to the Form of the Good. The origins of the metaphor can be traced back to the lyric poet , and it is found in Sophocles' Antigone and Aeschylus' Seven Against Thebes before Plato.

Explanation:

answer; self_ disclosure;

d. i assume the underlined word is "role." reformat if it isn't.

explanation:

role is closest to part because when replacing words, "playing a vital decision," "playing a vital activity," and "playing a vital dollar" don't make logical sense. the only meaningful choice is "playing a vital part."

this fits one of merriam-webster's definitions of role: "a function or part performed especially in a particular operation or process."