Plato and Aristotle An Analysis - 1175 Words

This four-page undergraduate essay explains, compares, and contrasts the theories and discussions of Plato and Aristotle regarding the best political association. Quotes from Politics and the Republic are used to support the author’s thesis. Plato and Aristotle: An Analysis Determining the best form of political association was important to the ancient Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle, and each of them expressed his opinion in important works such as the Republic and Politics. In explaining, comparing, and contrasting the political philosophies of Plato and Aristotle, it is evident that each of them shared the same goal of identifying and promoting the best form of political government. They also shared in†¦show more content†¦He criticized Oligarchy because its consequences were rule by the wealthy, which also causes injustice; and he criticized Tyranny because its consequences were dictatorship, which again causes injustice. In terms of the merits of the citizenry, Aristotle notes that the people may collectively be the best judges of certain things, so it is justified for them to take part in deliberations. But like Plato, he feels that the common people are not qualified to share in the highest offices. Both Plato and Aristot le also agree that laws need to be made in accordance with the regime, and agree that the more just a ruler is, the more just the laws will be. Essentially, both Aristotle and Plato asserted that the goal of politics should be justice. One difference between them is that Plato believed that the best claim to rule was education and virtue, although he conceded that there is also a claim to rule based on wealth and on numbers. Another difference is that Aristotle emphasized that the most important task for a leader was to be a lawgiver, and to frame the appropriate constitution for the city-state. In Aristotle’s system, it was the leader’s duty to provide enduring laws, customs, and institutions for the citizens. According to Aristotle, once the constitution was in place, the ruler needed to take the necessary steps to maintain it,Show MoreRelatedCritical Analysis of Plato and Aristotle1634 Words   |  7 PagesON POL 311 (HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT) TOPIC A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PLATO AND ARISTOTLES POLITICAL THOUGHT WRITTEN BY OKWOR, STEPHEN USHIE 09/ED/EF/814 DEPT OF EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS (POLITICAL SCIENCE UNIT) FACULTY OF EDUCATION SUBMITTED TO DR. EJERE DEPT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE UNIVERSITY OF UYO, UYO AKWA IBOM STATE MAY, 2012 A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PLATO AND ARISTOTLES POLITICAL THOUGHT In order to compare these great philosophersRead MoreAnalysis Of Plato s Republic And Aristotle s Politics1375 Words   |  6 Pagesdifferently to support their main goals of finding the right type of society. While Plato does not conform to the traditional definition of a family—with a husband, wife, and children—and instead defines the role of men and women separately, Aristotle uses the family as a microcosm of political society, in the hopes of showing readers how to create a just society for the former and a virtuous one for the latter. Plato describes the Kallipolis—the ideal city for the ancient Greeks—in his Republic. TheRead MoreAnalysis Of Plato s Republic And Aristotle s Nicomachean Ethics Essay2075 Words   |  9 Pagespresented in recreation and games. In Plato’s Republic, he defines sport in terms of athletics and how it relates to the cultivation of the self. Plato states that â€Å"sport serves the educational objectives of personal virtue, intellectual achievement, †¦, where athletics serve to select candidates capable of tolerating the most important subjects† (Reid, 2007). 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The views of Socrates expressed and written by his pupil Plato are vastly philosophical in nature and he promotes the idea of questioning life to achieve insight. The philosophers who possess the absolute truth are the best equipped to rule society according to Plato and his Allegory of the Cave. Conversely, Aristotle takes a more political science approach of discussingRead Mo reAbsolute Realism Vs. Hylemorphism1309 Words   |  6 Pagesvs. Hylemorphism Even though both Plato and his student Aristotle’s works are considered theoretically less valuable in modern times, as two of the most eminent ancient thinkers in the history of philosophy, their works continue to have great historical value. In the realm of metaphysics, Plato and Aristotle are both regarded as realists, and their philosophical ideas hold some similarities, but Aristotle is more considered as â€Å"moderate realist,† compared to Plato as an â€Å"absolute realist.† GenerallyRead MorePlato s Interpretation Of Utopia1630 Words   |  7 PagesPlato and Aristotle shared many differences despite also sharing a teacher student relationship. This essay will strive to establish their understandings of reason and the role reason plays in their comprehensions of politics, differentiating between the kinds of reason and politics produced as a result. Plato is regarded as the first writer of political philosophy while Aristotle is recognised as the first political scientist. Plato’s interpretation of Utopia is founded upon the existence of threeRead MorePlato And Aristotle Disagree About Virtue. Plato And Aristotle1403 Words   |  6 PagesPlato and Aristotle Disagree about Virtue Plato and Aristotle are great philosophers and they have talked a lot about virtue. Although these two people started from similar settings, their ideas about virtue were actually different. Plato’s philosophy was more about non-material things, like ideas and love. On the other hand, Aristotle liked things that are more measurable and physicals. In this paper, I will first discuss Plato’s ideas about the nature of virtue, which people have virtue when theyRead MoreHistorical Views of Leadership: Plato and Aristotle1320 Words   |  6 Pagescommonly held to begin with Herodotus of ancient Athens, it is not surprising that we should examine the historical views of leadership through the eyes of two titans of Greek thought: Plato and Aristotle. Both men lived in 4th century BCE Athens, so much of their background and experience was shared. Aristotle was the younger of the two, and he was Plato’s student. Where leadership is concerned, both philosophers agreed that the â€Å"best men† should rule, and that the purpose of leadership was theRead MoreAristotle And Plato s Philosophy1688 Words   |  7 Pages) Professor Armstrong CC 5 October 2015 Aristotle and Plato are famous for their many works in the philosophical field. Specifically, the Republic by Plato and Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle seem to be their most popular works. In these works they discuss things that are needed to achieve the â€Å"good life† both on an individual level and on a societal level. There is some variance between what the two philosophers think can create the â€Å"good life.† They explore the concepts of eudaimonia, virtue