Plato Essay -- essays research papers

Today many people regard Plato as the first genuine political philosopher and Aristotle as the first political scientist. They were two corking thinkers in regards to, in part with Socrates, being the foundation of the great western philosophers. Plato and Aristotle each had ideas in how to proceed with improving the family in which they were part of during their existence. It is necessary therefore to analyze their different theoretical approaches regarding their philosophical perspectives, such as ethics and psychology. This paper however will in general concentrate on Aristotles views on friendship and how it impacts todays society. The important objective in Platos philosophy is a creative activity of a perfect society. He constructs a foundation for a Utopian society in his book The Republic. The purpose of his thought adjoin was to cleanse his society of the woes he felt plagued it and construct a unfermented genius. Plato lived during the Peloponnesian War, which co nsequently lead to the end of the Athenian democracy. He had eyewitness account of his mentors (Socrates) trial and execution. Bitter and angered by the political corruption that gripped the Athenian antiauthoritarian government, he disengaged from participating in politics. He strongly felt that neither a moral individualistic nor a state that is rational could be established in a democratic environment. Plato felt that the common man wasnt intelligent or capable of dealing with concepts that influence the state such as economics, insurance of foreign affairs and other relative matters. He viewed political incumbents in Athens government as being elected for matters that were irrelevant to main factors that affected the state. Another danger was that excessive liberty for the people of the democratic society could potenti everyy lead to anarchy. In Platos perfect society, he forged ahead to eliminate the disease (pluralism of friendship) that plagued the human character and socie ty (Class Notes). Essentially, Plato wanted to establish the perfect form of society, linked by one single entity. Aristotle, unlike Plato, was not focused or concerned near the idea of a perfect society, instead he wanted to break upon the one that he was part of during his existence. Rather than develop a model for a society that is perfect, he suggested that society should, in it self, strive to give the best system it can attain. He f... ...l truth. Aristotle was more concerned with citizenship and institutional politics. They both had developed ideas and concepts to improve society as a whole. Aristotle and Plato pay back had a tremendous impact on political scientists of today. In Aristotle case, he was responsible for developing various democratic ideas. Even in redbrick democracies like our own Aristotles ideas hold true. When we vote in the choice of the ruler of our country we, theoretically, are voting for the single most tenuous citizen of our nation. That is we are voting for that citizen who can do the best job of on the job(p) toward our common inte relaxation. The citizen of a state who has the greatest ability to work towards the salvation of the constitution has a great gift that can benefit all citizens. It only makes sense to allow that particular individual to lead the rest of the citizens in working towards the common interests of the state. In conclusion, these men were great thinkers. Their opinions on society and its function were quite different, but they both had the same concern, to hold a better way of life for their societies they in lived in and for the societies that would come up to be in the future.