Substandard Summary:
Greek philosophers have paved the way to the fundamental basis of science, philosophy, and politics. The most notable figures that have contributed to the structure of early democracy and guidelines for natural laws that humans concur to are Plato and Aristotle. Based on their observation of human nature, politics, and philosophy when they conjunct as a whole as well as their separate autonomic functions, you will begin to tour over their relative works on how they impacted modern society and the origin of our current form of democracy.
Who was Plato and what were his main thoughts expressed in the book called the Republic in relation to politics
(437-347) Plato was a Greek student of the philosopher Socrates and lived out his life as the teacher of rationals and ideals based on the realities and planes of life we succumb to. The most profound teachings and theories of Plato were inscribed in his book called the Republic, which focused on the meaning of justice, elements of society, and the representation of the just man within a just city-state. He believed that timocracy, oligarchy, democracy, and tyranny, did not satisfy the needs of every member of society and would eventually turn over to its antithesis (Ex: Democracy to anarchy). He believed the ideal form of government was an aristocracy where philosopher kings ruled based on wisdom and reason, while maintaining the importance of each class within society to fulfill the needs of a well-functioning society. Peasants would provide the city food, warriors protect the city, and rulers organize the city.
Quotes: "Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder." "...(I)f you ask what is the good of education in general, the answer is easy; that education makes good men, and that good men act nobly." "(I) do to others as I would they should do to me." "Our object in the construction of the State is the greatest happiness of the whole, and not that of any one class." |
Who was Aristotle and what were his main thoughts expressed in the book called Politics in relation to politics?
Aristotle was Plato's student and based his teachings on Plato's thoughts on how current forms of government were not effective and durable enough to fulfill and last their purposes. However his view on government opposed that of Plato's aristocracy and preferred a polity. A polity can be described as a government crossed between democracy and oligarchy, where power resides within the middle class that can control the power flow among the size of the population. The government would pursue the common good of everyone's self-interest for welfare.
Quotes: “For as man is the best of all animals when he has reached his full development, so he is worst of all when divorced from law and justice.” “Justice therefore demands that no one should do more ruling than being ruled, but that all should have their turn.” “…happiness is an activity and a complete utilization of virtue, not conditionally but absolutely.” |
Artifact-Aristotle's Book the Politic:
This artifact contains the philosophical and political theories of the dichotomy of the ideal government, just community, and just individual. What Aristotle covers in this work is the extensive overview and theory of various forms of governments such as oligarchy, aristocracy, tyranny, and democracy in their up rise and downfalls. Politeia and Polis are heavily emphasized terms that compund into Aristotle's ideal form of government called a Polity.
“For as man is the best of all animals when he has reached his full development, so he is worst of all when divorced from law and justice.” Page 61, 1253a, lines 32-4.
The significance of this quote conveys the importance of establsihing a balanced relationship between the state and the individual.
“So we must lay it down that the association which is a state exists not for the purpose of living together but for the sake of noble actions. Those who contribute most to this kind of association are for that very reason entitled to a larger share in the state than those who, though they may be equal or even superior in free birth and in family, are inferior in the virtue that belongs to a citizen. Similarly they are entitled to a larger share than those who are superior in riches but inferior in virtue.” Page 198, 1281a, lines 2-10.
A major point Aristotle makes about the purpose of government is to have equitable distrbution of power for the sake of developing virtous lives.
Now I choose this source because it has many fundamental ideals that sprout up the establshing of governments and balance of power. Even though Aristotle personally disliked democracy and even his teacher Plato's aristocracy, his insight and knowledge is what changed the standing of political endeavors which human activity has seemingly never parted from. Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean Jacque Rousseau were notable figures who used many structures of Politics to back up their views on the most ideal forms of government which influenced the lineage of constiutional works throughout western civilization.
“For as man is the best of all animals when he has reached his full development, so he is worst of all when divorced from law and justice.” Page 61, 1253a, lines 32-4.
The significance of this quote conveys the importance of establsihing a balanced relationship between the state and the individual.
“So we must lay it down that the association which is a state exists not for the purpose of living together but for the sake of noble actions. Those who contribute most to this kind of association are for that very reason entitled to a larger share in the state than those who, though they may be equal or even superior in free birth and in family, are inferior in the virtue that belongs to a citizen. Similarly they are entitled to a larger share than those who are superior in riches but inferior in virtue.” Page 198, 1281a, lines 2-10.
A major point Aristotle makes about the purpose of government is to have equitable distrbution of power for the sake of developing virtous lives.
Now I choose this source because it has many fundamental ideals that sprout up the establshing of governments and balance of power. Even though Aristotle personally disliked democracy and even his teacher Plato's aristocracy, his insight and knowledge is what changed the standing of political endeavors which human activity has seemingly never parted from. Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean Jacque Rousseau were notable figures who used many structures of Politics to back up their views on the most ideal forms of government which influenced the lineage of constiutional works throughout western civilization.
Opinion Piece:
Essential Question: How did Aristotle and Plato contribute to the development of democracy?
Aristotle and Plato left their living legacies which transpire through the many human establishments such as government, advancements in science, community structure, and philosophy. Despite their criticism against many forms of government including democracy during their time period, they're observations and political ideals were the solutions to the ever changing power within civilization. Aristotle and Plato made contributions to democracy through the discovery of the purpose and origin of government.
Aristotle's book Politic contained the pinnacle of his ideal form of government and virtuous individual. Aristotle pushes for the purpose of government when he states, "So we must lay it down that the association which is a state exists not for the purpose of living together but for the sake of noble actions. Those who contribute most to this kind of association are for that very reason entitled to a larger share in the state than those who, though they may be equal or even superior in free birth and in family, are inferior in the virtue that belongs to a citizen. Similarly they are entitled to a larger share than those who are superior in riches but inferior in virtue" (Page 198, 1281a, lines 2-10). The stark realization Aristotle conveys to his readers is that governments are made to cultivate better communities with rational distributions of power throughout all classes of society. Documents such as the social contract made by Jean Jacque Rousseau and the U.S. Constitution, emphasized the aims for an ideal government would require the well-being of a healthy relationship between state and its citizens. This goes further into natural rights which the state must bestow upon its people in return for their 'freedom' or prerequisite to be citizens under their nation. Aristotle's works have been proven throughout the millenniums for contributing to the functioning of government and individuals by the relationship they share to stride for a common good. Plato's book Republic was his compilation of understanding what makes any government good, justice, and the reality of laws. Plato's clarifies the choosing of a leader: "Until philosophers rule as kings or those who are now called kings and leading men genuinely and adequately philosophise, that is, until political power and philosophy entirely coincide, while the many natures who at present pursue either one exclusively are forcibly prevented from doing so, cities will have no rest from evils,... nor, I think, will the human race." (Republic 473c-d) What Plato implies here is not directly meaning that philosophers make the best leaders, but rather the term philosopher refers to 'one who loves to seek the truth'. By that, he is trying to say that a government that seeks the interest of common good needs a leader who runs his nation for the common good of the people. In the same context of how a musician has interest in music or a carpenter to his constructs, they all need a willing connection to work for their interest towards the spirit of something. This would bring up how modern politics is always concerned with what the leader's ambitions are to that of the masses. The Republic sets the means as to how the symbolic body of government at its leading role within modern times is only effective when the machine is operated by the right person.
In conclusion, Aristotle and Plato's findings had redefined the understanding and processes of government through explaination and clarification of its established intentions and fundamental basis.
Aristotle's book Politic contained the pinnacle of his ideal form of government and virtuous individual. Aristotle pushes for the purpose of government when he states, "So we must lay it down that the association which is a state exists not for the purpose of living together but for the sake of noble actions. Those who contribute most to this kind of association are for that very reason entitled to a larger share in the state than those who, though they may be equal or even superior in free birth and in family, are inferior in the virtue that belongs to a citizen. Similarly they are entitled to a larger share than those who are superior in riches but inferior in virtue" (Page 198, 1281a, lines 2-10). The stark realization Aristotle conveys to his readers is that governments are made to cultivate better communities with rational distributions of power throughout all classes of society. Documents such as the social contract made by Jean Jacque Rousseau and the U.S. Constitution, emphasized the aims for an ideal government would require the well-being of a healthy relationship between state and its citizens. This goes further into natural rights which the state must bestow upon its people in return for their 'freedom' or prerequisite to be citizens under their nation. Aristotle's works have been proven throughout the millenniums for contributing to the functioning of government and individuals by the relationship they share to stride for a common good. Plato's book Republic was his compilation of understanding what makes any government good, justice, and the reality of laws. Plato's clarifies the choosing of a leader: "Until philosophers rule as kings or those who are now called kings and leading men genuinely and adequately philosophise, that is, until political power and philosophy entirely coincide, while the many natures who at present pursue either one exclusively are forcibly prevented from doing so, cities will have no rest from evils,... nor, I think, will the human race." (Republic 473c-d) What Plato implies here is not directly meaning that philosophers make the best leaders, but rather the term philosopher refers to 'one who loves to seek the truth'. By that, he is trying to say that a government that seeks the interest of common good needs a leader who runs his nation for the common good of the people. In the same context of how a musician has interest in music or a carpenter to his constructs, they all need a willing connection to work for their interest towards the spirit of something. This would bring up how modern politics is always concerned with what the leader's ambitions are to that of the masses. The Republic sets the means as to how the symbolic body of government at its leading role within modern times is only effective when the machine is operated by the right person.
In conclusion, Aristotle and Plato's findings had redefined the understanding and processes of government through explaination and clarification of its established intentions and fundamental basis.