Aristolte Plato Social Contract
Sonksen 1
Connor Sonksen
Connorsonksen1@gmail.com
Topic #2
Dr. Graff
HON171
11/02/2012
Social Contracts and Responsibility
The best and brightest of history’s philosophers have dedicated great amounts of time to describing the best forms of social and political organization with the hope of discovering the best way of life for humanity. Aristotle and Plato are certainly no exception. The teacher and the student, defined by each other’s works, have taken historical and groundbreaking positions that have greatly influenced politicians and future thinkers. No one writer of the Western World has been able to produce as much conversation and controversy as the writings of these two authors. Aristotle’s Politics and Plato’s Republic give vast amounts of insight into people and society’s behavior and ideals. Aristotle even makes references and criticisms of his teacher in his work forcing modern day academics to analyze both arguments and come up with different inferences. Subjects such as justice, governance, happiness, and inherent human nature are described and argued in both books and have direct impacts to the way individuals think and the way people live today. Both Plato and Aristotle have their own opinions as to what defines an ideal state and that the means of a state is to provide justice and to maximize utility for its citizens by instituting power and control through leaders that pursue wisdom, virtue, and knowledge. Although there are links between the two philosophers, each takes a unique approach to the question.
Aristotle and Plato go into great detail describing the characteristics of an ideal government and what political and social aspects form bad constitutions. Within this debate, much of the author’s perspective on other aspects such as wisdom, justice, and moderation take
Sonksen 2 form and help the reader understand what Plato and Aristotle truly believe as to the nature of humanity. In today’s world, democracy, a “government of the
Connor Sonksen
Connorsonksen1@gmail.com
Topic #2
Dr. Graff
HON171
11/02/2012
Social Contracts and Responsibility
The best and brightest of history’s philosophers have dedicated great amounts of time to describing the best forms of social and political organization with the hope of discovering the best way of life for humanity. Aristotle and Plato are certainly no exception. The teacher and the student, defined by each other’s works, have taken historical and groundbreaking positions that have greatly influenced politicians and future thinkers. No one writer of the Western World has been able to produce as much conversation and controversy as the writings of these two authors. Aristotle’s Politics and Plato’s Republic give vast amounts of insight into people and society’s behavior and ideals. Aristotle even makes references and criticisms of his teacher in his work forcing modern day academics to analyze both arguments and come up with different inferences. Subjects such as justice, governance, happiness, and inherent human nature are described and argued in both books and have direct impacts to the way individuals think and the way people live today. Both Plato and Aristotle have their own opinions as to what defines an ideal state and that the means of a state is to provide justice and to maximize utility for its citizens by instituting power and control through leaders that pursue wisdom, virtue, and knowledge. Although there are links between the two philosophers, each takes a unique approach to the question.
Aristotle and Plato go into great detail describing the characteristics of an ideal government and what political and social aspects form bad constitutions. Within this debate, much of the author’s perspective on other aspects such as wisdom, justice, and moderation take
Sonksen 2 form and help the reader understand what Plato and Aristotle truly believe as to the nature of humanity. In today’s world, democracy, a “government of the
Bibliography: Grube, G.M.A 1992 Plato: Republic. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company. Jowett, Benjamin 2000 Aristotle: Politics. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.