Connor High Classical Political Thought 12/15/10 Examining Plato and Aristotle’s Political Regimes Structures Plato and Aristotle both understood the importance of wisdom and virtue in founding a good regime. In their writings‚ they suggest the effect they felt a ruler had on a regime and vice versa. Where Plato saw a linear slope of five increasingly misguided and degenerating regimes‚ Aristotle saw six regimes: three true and three corrupt. Each regime has a ruling political good. This
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Plato and Aristotle Dialogue As I was at Plato’s Academy‚ I overhear an argument between Plato and Aristotle. The two were in an intensive argument over the theory of forms and the theory of knowledge. As I listened‚ I noticed that the two had extremely different viewpoints on the issues‚ but both men had compelling arguments. The first heated discussion was on the theory of knowledge. Plato’s views on knowledge were interesting to me. Plato believed that knowledge about reality comes from within
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man should follow courses of action that are seen to be ‘just’‚ Plato compliments his ethical answers by establishing a psychological structure that shows that conflict predominantly occurs during our decision making as moral agents. We can also see in The Republic a progression of the soul from his earlier‚ more primitive account‚ that saw that man could only act in his best interests (even if these were subsequently flawed). Plato has developed his arguments considerably so as to take into account
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analyzing the works of Plato and John Locke I feel that Plato presents a more accurate idealism in how a society should be maintained. Plato puts ultimate power in those with the highest knowledge. I feel that this concept is necessary in order to have a successful regime‚ thus I support in my argument. Plato’s theory hand picks guardians to become Philosopher Kings. These kings are those with "Gold" Souls‚ and in fact do not wish to become such a hierarchal figure. Plato chooses Guardians who do
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Meno begins his quest to have Socrates explain virtue by nature by stating that having beautiful things is to have virtue. “So I say that virtue is to desire beautiful things and have the power to acquire them” (77b). To help him to understand that this statement is not complete‚ Socrates inquires about specific characteristics that might comprise having something beautiful. These characteristics include wealth‚ a position of honor‚ justice‚ and the pursuit of happiness. Only in perfect combination
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Plato’s Apology is a narrative of the famous speech of Socrates that is made during his trial. Instead of apologizing‚ Socrates attempts to defend himself and his actions. He is put on trial due to his accusations of corrupting Athens‚ not acknowledging the same gods as the state‚ and creating new gods. During his dialogue‚ Socrates remains very calm and speaks with honesty. He focuses on what is said rather than his manner of speech. When he is first presented in from of the jury‚ Socrates asks
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Plato’s Republic‚ is a classic philosophical novel that covers many points and topics regarding philosophy‚ one of the main points includes justice. In this essay I will be answering the question of whether justice in the soul is choice worthy for its own sake. While this topic is quite complex‚ I will use a mixture of personal analysis as well as evidence from the book itself to assert that justice in the soul is the best choice for its own sake. In the following paragraphs I will discuss what justice
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forms is unconvincing discuss Plato was a duellist and thus believed that there are two worlds; the material world and the world of ideas/Forms. The world of ideas or Forms is the true reality and the world of appearances is just reflections of world of Forms. Plato believed that our knowledge of the Forms was a priori which means that our souls knew the Forms before it was inside us‚ therefore we have knowledge prior to experiencing the objects with our senses. Plato believes everyone is born with
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Plato form of the good -most important form is the form of the good‚ highest form and the source of all other forms - it represents the sun in the allegory of the cave‚ it illuminates and is the source of the other forms - all forms are an aspect of goodness- truth‚ courage ‚ wisdom and beauty is an aspect of goodness - the greatest thing we will learn‚ knowledge of it is an end in itself and gives meaning and purpose to life. - Different forms are arranged in a hierarchy and most important forms
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Imitation Background Plato was born in 427 BC—3 years after the outbreak of the Peloponnesian war. At the time ancient Greek was divided into several city states‚ and each state has its own government. At that time there were two city states which were powerful and strong enough to influence the governing system of whole Greek. The states were “Athens” and “Sparta”. Both the states were at war‚ when Plato was born ‚ due to the conflict of choice of democracy rule or military rule. Plato was born in a
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