Plato-Aristotle: The Ideal State and Political Philosophy

PLATO-ARISTOTLE: THE IDEAL STATE and POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

INTRODUCTION

As philosophers of the golden age of Greek philosophy, Plato and Aristotle have greatly contributed to political philosophy, aside other areas. In this write-up, I intend to evaluate the points of agreement and disagreement as regards the prescriptions on the ideal state and political thought by both these philosophers.

In order to understand the present situation of politics we must start from the roots of it. One of the most fundamental ethical and political concepts is justice. It is a complex and confusing concept. It may refer to individual virtue, the order of society, as well as individual rights in contrast to the claims of the general social order.

THE IDEAL STATE

Initially, a state is defined as a "territorial entity divided into government and subject; and claiming within its allotted area, supremacy over all other institutions". The word "ideal" simply means a "perfected standard". Hence, an ideal state must be a state that is based on a perfected standard. Plato and Aristotle both prescribed what these perfected standards on which the state be based, should be, according to their metaphysical orientation about man.

POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

Generally Political philosophy can be understood by analyzing it through the perspectives of "metaphysics and epistemology". Metaphysics by which it explains the fundamental nature of being and the world in the term that is not easily defined and Epistemology focused on analyzing the nature of knowledge and how it relates to and connect notions such as truth, belief, and justification.

COMPARING PLATO AND ARISTOTLE'S

For both, the end of the state is virtuous; as justice is the basis for the ideal state. For Plato, the individual and the state are one, as they both have a multilateral nature of which justice is the result of a sound balance of these three parts. Aristotle asserts that the city-state (polis) comes into being for the sake of life, but exists for the sake of the good life.

Concept of ruling

Plato's ruling philosophy has been summarized as the "rule of the best man" -because the philosopher king (gold) who alone knows the ideal standards for the state. The philosopher itself has the skill and trained to rule.

Aristotle's ruling philosophy has been summarized as the "rule of the best laws" - because a well ordered constitution will cause prudence. For him, although ruling is a skill and an ideal as well; it is also about the reasoning behind it.

Ideal Ruler

Plato's ideal ruler is the one who can seek the problem

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