Politics of Plato and Aristotle

To compare the political theories of two great philosophers of politics is to

first examine each theory in depth. Many experts regard Plato as the first
writer of political philosophy, and Aristotle is recognized as the first political
scientist. These two men were great thinkers. They each had ideas of how to
improve existing societies during their individual lifetimes. It is necessary to
look at several areas of each theory to seek the difference in each.

The main focus of Plato is a perfect society. He creates a blueprint for a

utopian society, in his book The Republic. This blueprint was a sketch of a
society in which the problems he thought were present in his society would
be eased.

He lived in times of Peloponnesian War, the time of sunset of Athenian

democracy. In addition, he had witnessed Socrates trial and execution.
Shocked by corruption of Athenian democracy and politics he refused to
participate in political life. He believed that neither rational state nor moral
individual could be obtained under the rule of democracy. In his works he
mentions three dangers that he thought were present in democratic society.
Plato believed that common man could not think intelligently about foreign
policies, economic, and other states matters. He also thought that leaders in
democracy were chosen by reasons such a good look, family background, and
other non-essential reasons. The third danger was that too much liberty for
citizens could turn a democracy to anarchy.

In his utopian society Plato sought to cure the afflictions of both human
society and human personality. Essentially, Plato wanted to achieve a perfect
society.
Aristotle, unlike Plato, is not concerned with perfecting society. He just wants
to improve on the existing one. Rather than produce a blueprint for the
perfect society, Aristotle suggested, in his work, The Politics, that the society
itself should reach for the best possible system that could be attained. He
thought that utopia is an abstract solution, a solution that has no concrete
problem. There is no solid evidence that all societies are in need of such
drastic reformation as Plato suggests. Aristotle discovers that the best
possible has already been obtained. All that can be done is to try to improve
on the existing one.

Plato's utopia consists of three distinct, non-hereditary class systems. The

highest class was Guardians. The Guardians consist of non-ruling Guardians
and ruling Guardians. The non-rulers are a higher level of civil servants and
the ruling is the society's policy makers. Auxiliaries are soldiers and minor
civil servants. Finally the Workers are composed of farmers and artisans, most
commonly unskilled laborers. The Guardians are to be wise and good rulers. It
is important that the rulers are public-spirited in temperament and skilled in
the arts of government areas. The highest Guardian is to be placed in a
position of absolute ruler. He is supposed to be a philosopher and know what
is best for society.

Aristotle disagrees with the idea of one class holding discontinuing political
power. The failure to allow circulation between classes excludes those men
who may be ambitious, and wise, but are not in the right class of society to
hold any type of political power. Aristotle looks upon this ruling class system
as an ill-conceived political structure. He quotes "It is a further objection that
he deprives his Guardians even of happiness, maintaining that happiness of
the whole state which should be the object of legislation," ultimately he is
saying that Guardians sacrifice their happiness for power and control.
Guardians who lead such a strict life will also think it necessary to impose the
same strict lifestyle on the society it governs.

Aristotle puts a high value on moderation. Many people favor moderation

because it is part liberal and part conservative. There is so much of Plato's
utopia that is undefined and it is carried to extremes that no human being
could ever fulfill its requirements. Aristotle believes that Plato is
underestimating the qualitative change in human character and personality
that would have to take place in order to achieve his utopia. Plato chose to
tell the reader of his Republic how men would act and what their attitudes
would be in a perfect society. Aristotle tries to use real men in the real world
in an experimental fashion to foresee how and in which ways they can be
improved.

Both Plato and Aristotle agree that justice exists in an objective sense: that is,
it dictates a belief that the good life should be provided for all individuals no
matter how high or low their social status. "In democracies, for example,
justice is considered to mean equality, in oligarchies, again inequality in the
distribution of office is considered to be just, " says Aristotle. Plato sees the

justice and law as what sets the guidelines for societal behavior.
Aristotle puts emphasis on the institution of the polis. This institution is not
the state or society merely the larger unit of the two. The polis was set up to
allow political participation on the part of the average citizen. This contradicts
Plato's theory of one ruling class controlling the political power and all
decisions that effect the entire society. The theory of Democracy that
Aristotle derived states that democracy is a "perversion" form of government
of "polity". Aristotle said, "The people at large should be sovereign rather
than the few best". Plato would never allow the full public participation in
government, as Aristotle would like. According to Plato public judgments of
approval and disapproval are based on belief and not on knowledge.

Plato thinks that is a revolution were to take place it would be a palace

revolution. A palace revolution occurs when there is a power transfer from
one power holder to someone else. Aristotle sees the cause of revolutions
originating with either the rich or the poor. He feels that the means of
preventing revolutions is to anticipate them. Plato thinks that in a utopia a
disgruntled group of Guardians will emerge and break from the rules. He
thinks that in an oligarchy two things may happen to spark a revolution: the
first being the ruler and their offspring grow to be weak rulers and too
sympathetic, the second is that the number of poor grows larger and suffer
exploitation at the hands of those in power over them. Aristotle states that to
know the causes, which destroy constitutions, is also to know the causes,
which ensure their preservation.

Plato and Aristotle alike were two men who had ideas on ways to improve
existing society. Plato, a political philosopher, was in the pursuit of
philosophical truth. Aristotle was concerned with the citizen and the design of
political institutions. They both had well thought out ideas and plans on how
to build a better society. Both Aristotle and Plato have had a tremendous
impact on political scientists of today. Aristotle helped to develop some
democratic ideas. In conclusion, these men were great thinkers. Their
opinions on society and its functions were quite different, but they both had
the same intention, to build a better way of life for the societies they lived in
and for the societies that would come to be in the future.