Isabella Carter
Plato and Aristotle are two of the greatest philosophers who ever lived, and their ideas have had a profound impact on political theory and Western philosophy. Plato, born in Athens around 427 B.C.E., came from a distinguished family and was a pupil of Socrates. He developed areas of philosophy such as epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and aesthetics, and his political philosophy, particularly his idea of a mixed constitution, influenced later philosophers. Aristotle, his student and successor, further developed the concept of mixed government and the separation of powers, classifying six forms of government. Aristotle's political theory emphasizes the importance of constitutions that aim for the common good, and he offers a blueprint for the ideal constitution, which includes moral virtue and private property. While influenced by Plato, Aristotle criticizes his predecessor's ideal constitution, arguing that it overvalues political unity and neglects individual happiness. Both philosophers recognized the dangers of democracy and oligarchy, but Aristotle preferred a constitutional democracy, believing that living according to the constitution is self-preservation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plato's ideal constitution | Royalty or aristocracy |
| Aristotle's view of Plato's ideal constitution | Overvalues political unity, embraces an impractical system of communism, and neglects the happiness of individual citizens |
| Aristotle's ideal constitution | Each citizen will possess moral virtue and the equipment to carry it out in practice, and thereby attain a life of excellence and complete happiness |
| Aristotle's view of democracy | Sees many actual or potential evils in democracy, including the sovereignty of the majority and liberty |
| Plato's view of democracy | A strong state should contain elements of both democracy and tyranny, so that the state has a mixed government |
| Aristotle's view of Plato's view of democracy | Directed primarily at the most extreme democracy, where all of the citizens share and deliberate |
| Aristotle's ideal form of government | Polity, a combination of oligarchy and democracy |
| Aristotle's view of law | The rule of law is better than the authority of “even the best man” |
| Plato's view of law | Implemented constitutional laws that set up a "mighty shield" between parties to prevent an unjust victory |
| Aristotle's contribution to intellectual patrimony | Greater than Plato's |
| Aristotle's influence on the US Constitution | Separation of powers into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial |
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What You'll Learn
Plato's ideal constitution
Plato's ideal city is often criticised as a "nowhere-utopia" because humans are psychologically unable to create or sustain such a city. Critics claim that Plato's ideal constitution rests on an unrealistic picture of human beings. However, Plato's Republic offers grounds for imposing demanding standards on rulers, and his ideas have had a profound impact on subsequent political theory, including that of his student Aristotle.
Plato's political philosophy was influenced by his relation to Solon, the prominent reformer of the Athenian constitution. Plato's mother was related to Solon, and it is likely that Plato was well acquainted with Solon's deeds and ideas, which deeply influenced him. Solon's constitutional reform, implemented over 150 years before Plato's birth, restored righteous order, or eunomia, to Athens. Plato's ideal constitution similarly seeks to promote social peace and cooperation among different social groups, each contributing to and benefiting from the common good.
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Aristotle's critique of Plato's ideal constitution
Aristotle was a student of Plato, and his political views were influenced by his teacher. However, Aristotle was highly critical of the ideal constitution set forth in Plato's Republic. In his work, Politics, Aristotle criticizes Plato's ideal state by highlighting the values put forward in Plato's Republic.
Firstly, Aristotle censures Plato's idea of state unification through communal sharing of wives, children, and property. Aristotle argues that Plato's concept is detrimental to the state's unity as it prevents individual citizens from achieving their maximum role in society and being as happy as possible. Aristotle emphasizes the importance of diversity and individual responsibility in achieving societal unity. He believes that the state is a composite whole made up of parts, and that unity would destroy the state's self-sufficiency.
Secondly, Aristotle criticizes Plato's Republic for overvaluing political unity and embracing a system of communism that is impractical and goes against human nature. Aristotle's "best constitution" aims for each citizen to possess moral virtue and the ability to carry it out in practice, thus attaining a life of excellence and complete happiness. He stresses that all citizens should hold political office and possess private property.
Thirdly, Aristotle disagrees with Plato's view that the state should comprise a unity. He argues that there are different types of democracy, oligarchy, and aristocracy, and that his ideal constitution, which he calls "polity," is a mixture of oligarchy and democracy. Aristotle's constitutional theory is based on the idea that constitutions that aim for the common advantage are correct and just, while those that only benefit the rulers are deviant and unjust.
Finally, Aristotle criticizes the proposed constitution of Plato's Republic as being unrealistic and ignoring natural human behavior. He points out that Plato's Republic outlines a Utopian society where the government suppresses functional growth, and citizens are not allowed any freedom as their jobs are assigned based on their specialty. Aristotle takes a more modern approach that allows for individual happiness while also promoting the happiness of the state.
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Aristotle's preferred constitutional democracy
Aristotle's political theory is based on his belief that humans are inherently "political animals", meaning that they naturally live together in communities and cities. Aristotle's work in this area is a combination of observation and theory, and he and his students documented the constitutions of 158 states. Aristotle's aim was to determine what makes a good government and what makes a bad one. He also wanted to identify the factors that contribute to the preservation of a constitution.
Aristotle's views on the ideal constitution were influenced by his teacher, Plato. However, Aristotle was critical of Plato's ideal constitution, as set out in 'The Republic'. Aristotle believed that Plato's constitution overvalued political unity, embraced an impractical system of communism, and neglected the happiness of individual citizens.
In contrast, Aristotle's "best constitution" is one in which every citizen possesses moral virtue and the ability to carry it out in practice, thus achieving a life of excellence and complete happiness. In Aristotle's view, all citizens should hold political office and possess private property.
Aristotle's constitutional theory is based on his theory of justice, which is outlined in the 'Nicomachean Ethics'. He believed that constitutions that aim for the common good are correct and just, while those that only benefit the rulers are deviant and unjust.
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Plato and Aristotle's views on tyranny
Nearly 2,400 years ago, the Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle explored political philosophy, including the subjects of tyranny and the rule of law. Tyranny, for both philosophers, occurs when absolute power is granted to a ruler, who becomes corrupt and uses their power to further their interests instead of working for the common good.
Plato's Republic describes the decay of regimes, from aristocracy to tyranny, the lowest form of government. Plato believed that tyranny is the polar opposite of the ideal state, or kallipolis, and that every regime will always decay into the next. In Plato's view, the democratic "mob" must be controlled by a rational element, and that a strict division of labour must be avoided, as individuals exercising a variety of functions would lead to the state's ruin. He also believed that the soul of the tyrant was entirely corrupt, assuming a gradual process of moral decay.
Aristotle, in his work "Politics", rejected Plato's ideal state, arguing that it fails to address the conflicts that will arise among its citizens. He claimed that Plato's ideal state contains two states in one, each hostile to the other, and that Plato's guardians are reduced to an occupying garrison. Aristotle did not consider Plato's account of constitutional change and the political decline described in the "Republic" to be historically plausible. Aristotle's view was that the best form of government is one in which every man can act best and live happily. He argued that there were six general ways in which societies could be organized under political rule, and that true forms of government rule with a view to the common interest, while governments ruling with a view to private interests are perverse. Tyranny, for Aristotle, is a kind of monarchy that rules in the interest of the monarch only, and is the worst form of government. Aristotle did not consider oligarchies and democracies as inherently bad, as they are capable of producing livable societies, unlike tyranny. However, he also believed that there are better ways to govern, relying on a quality of character in leadership that is uncommon. Aristotle saw the fundamental division of any state as that between the rich and the poor, and he defined democracy as rule by those who are free but not wealthy.
Both Plato and Aristotle were critics of tyranny, and their views on the subject differ only in points of emphasis, not fundamental principles.
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Plato and Aristotle's influence on the US Constitution
Plato and Aristotle are two ancient Greek philosophers whose ideas have had a profound impact on Western political thought, including the US Constitution. Plato, who was a pupil of Socrates, is often regarded as the first political philosopher, and his ideas influenced Aristotle, who was his student and successor.
Plato's political philosophy centred around the idea of unity, which he saw as the ultimate principle informing the interrelation of elements in a city's constitution. He advocated for a ""mixed" constitution, which he believed could prevent the decline of government into anarchy. Plato's ideal constitution was either royalty or aristocracy, where sovereignty lay with carefully trained guardians. He also introduced a system of checks and balances to prevent any side from gaining an unjust victory and to consider the legitimate interests of all social groups.
Aristotle, on the other hand, offered a synthesis of idealism and pragmatism in his political theory. He criticised Plato's ideal constitution, arguing that it overvalued political unity, embraced impractical communism, and neglected individual happiness. Aristotle's "best constitution" advocated for every citizen to possess moral virtue and the means to attain a life of excellence and happiness. He believed in a mixture of oligarchy and democracy, with three branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial. This classification system laid the groundwork for the constitutional division of powers in the US government.
Both Plato and Aristotle recognised the potential pitfalls of democracy, such as excessive individual licence, disorder, and the inordinate indulgence of appetites. Aristotle's criticisms were directed at the most extreme form of democracy, where all citizens share and deliberate. He emphasised that living according to the constitution is not slavery but self-preservation.
The influence of Plato and Aristotle on the US Constitution can be seen through the works of the Founding Fathers. John Adams, for example, relied heavily on Aristotle's writings and those of writers who were influenced by him. Aristotle's ideas also informed Adams's descriptions of ancient Greek governments and his criticisms of Plato. Additionally, Aristotle's work, "Politeia," was recommended as a foundational text for members of the Confederation Congress, including future delegates at the Constitutional Convention like James Madison.
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Frequently asked questions
Plato's idea of a constitution is based on the principle of unity. He believed that a strong state should contain elements of both democracy and tyranny, resulting in a "mixed government". He also believed in the specialisation of function, where every individual is naturally fitted for one task.
Aristotle's idea of a constitution is a mixture of oligarchy and democracy, which he calls "polity". He believed that the rulers of a state should be subject to the same laws as the rest of the populace and that the law should be supreme. He also classified six forms of government, with three "higher forms" and their degenerate counterparts.
It is difficult to definitively state that one philosopher provided a better constitution than the other as it depends on individual interpretation and context. However, it is worth noting that Aristotle was a student of Plato and was highly critical of his teacher's views, particularly regarding his ideal constitution set forth in "The Republic". Aristotle believed that Plato's constitution overvalued political unity and embraced an impractical system of communism.
