Compare And Contrast Plato And John Locke

Two very important thinkers, Plato and John Locke, have varying views on politics and society. Both of their views contribute greatly to world politics and the United States politics.
Plato values justice as the most dominant concept of society. In The Republic, he used the Greek word "Dikaisyne" for justice which can also be loosely translated to 'morality' or 'righteousness'; it includes within it the duty of man. Justice is order and duty. It is a harmonious strength including the effective harmony of the whole, which he believes can be accomplished through the ordering of social classes. All his moral conceptions revolve about the good of the individual and the good of society. Plato’s political philosophy revolves around justice.
Plato's experience of democracy led him to believe that worshipping good gods and instilling the virtue of wisdom in the form of philosophy was the right path to the good city. Instead of rule by popularity and spiritedness, the old and wise would rule and dictate what is best and just.
Locke believed the majority, upon entering into a commonwealth, get to choose their form of government and may change. He defined protection of personal property as a right. He also believed legislative power was the most
Plato believed philosopher-kings should rule based on a vision of good that their superior intellect allows them to grasp. If the most intelligent people rule, excellence is ensured. According to Locke, the community holds the highest power and is the supreme law. Although a king may rule, the natural rights of the individual limit the power of the king. The legislative part of government is the most important, but must only be active at certain times, while the executive branch must always be active. Because Locke believes in the rationality of humans, he believes the community should hold the most power and make decisions about their