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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
(Hacker 71). Aristotle relied on the deductive approach, while Aristotle is an
example of an inductive approach (Hacker 71). Utopia is a solution in
abstract, a solution that has no concrete problem (Hacker 76). There is no
solid evidence that all societies are in need of such drastic reformation as
Plato suggests (Hacker 76). Aristotle discovers that the best possible has
already been obtained (Hacker 76). All that can be done is to try to improve
on the existing one.
Aristotle disagrees with the idea of one class holding discontinuing political
power (Hacker 85). 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 (Hacker 85). Aristotle looks upon
this ruling class system as an ill-conceived political structure (Hacker 86). 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 (Hacker 86).
Aristotle puts a high value on moderation (Hacker 81). 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 (Hacker 81). 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
(Hacker 81). Plato chose to tell the reader of his Republic how men would act
and what their attitudes would be in a perfect society (Hacker 81). 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 (Hacker 81).
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 (Hacker 91). "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
(Hacker 91). Plato sees the justice and law as what sets the guidelines for
societal behavior.
Aristotle puts emphasis on the institution of the polis (Hacker 77). This
institution is not the state or society merely the larger unit of the two (hacker
77). Neither Plato nor Aristotle found it to be necessary to distinguish
between the state nor society and therefore it is difficult to define polis
(Hacker 77). The polis was set up to allow political participation on the part of
the average citizen (Hacker 80). 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" (Hacker 92).
Aristotle said, "The people at large should be sovereign rather than the few
best" (Hacker 92). 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 (Hacker
59).
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 (Hacker 114). Aristotle was concerned with the citizen and
the design of political institutions (Hacker 114). 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 developed 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.
Works Cited