Philosophy is defined as a critical analysis of fundamental beliefs. The greatest philosophers in the western world: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, all believed in the idea of justice and the human soul.   When they started forming their own beliefs, though, they were headed in different directions.   Plato stressed on the true meaning of justice, and how all people deserved to be equal, while Aristotle felt that governing a state all depends on the needs of that specific state.   Each philosopher had his views on political ideas, each with a different perspective as the next. Plato and Aristotle=s views on the structure of government, and cruel rulings of tyranny show how greatly the Western political ideas have developed, which, in turn, has brought our world to the present political structures.


The views of Plato and Aristotle on the ideal structure of government differ greatly.   According to Aristotle, the structure of government needed to satisfy the need of the state.   He felt that he must A=consider what is the best constitution and the best way of life for the majority of states and men=@ (Barker 180).   Aristotle felt that the best structure of government would be a democracy, which can be a form of a constitutional government; though one needs to alter the guidelines of a government in order to satisfy that specific city.   By using the idea of democracy, Aristotle states, in his book Politics, that he was trying to Aimprove the quality of the deliberative body by applying to it the plan which oligarchies apply to the meetings of the law court@ (Barker 192).   Aristotle liked the idea of a democracy, with a twist of oligarchy added to it.  

Plato, however, completely distrusted the views that Aristotle had.   He felt as though democracy could potentially turn into tyranny, because citizens were voted in by a majority vote, and many of those people had no plans, no answers other then the ones the people wanted to hear.   The most successful structure of... [continues]

Read full essay

Cite This Essay

APA

(2006, 11). Annalytical Essay. StudyMode.com. Retrieved 11, 2006, from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Annalytical-Essay-100671.html

MLA

"Annalytical Essay" StudyMode.com. 11 2006. 11 2006 <http://www.studymode.com/essays/Annalytical-Essay-100671.html>.

CHICAGO

"Annalytical Essay." StudyMode.com. 11, 2006. Accessed 11, 2006. http://www.studymode.com/essays/Annalytical-Essay-100671.html.