Plato Vs. Aristotle :: essays research papers

Plato vs. Aristotle     Plato and Aristotle, two philosophers in the 4th century, hold polarviews on government activity and philosophy in general. This fact is very cleverlyillustrated by Raphaels "School of Athens" (1510-11 Stanza della Segnatura,Vatican), where Plato is portrayed looking up to the higher forms and Aristotleis pointing down because he supports the natural sciences. In a discussion ofpolitics, the stand point of each philosopher becomes an essential factor. Itis not coincidental that Plato states in The Republic that Philosopher Rulerswho possess knowledge of the good should be the governors in a city state. Hisstrong interest in metaphysics is demonstrated in The Republic various timesfor example, the similes of the cave, the sun, and the line, and his theory ofthe forms. Because he is so involved in metaphysics, his views on politics aremore theoretical as opposed to actual. Aristotle, contrarily, holds the viewthat politics is the ar t of ruling and being ruled in turn. In The Politics,he attempts to outline a way of governing that would be ideal for an actualstate. Balance is a main word in discussing Aristotle because he believes it isthe necessary fragment to creating a stable government. His less metaphysicalapproach to politics makes Aristotle more in tune with the modern world, yet heis far from modern.     Platos concept of what politics and government should be is a directresult of his belief in the theory of forms. The theory of forms basicallystates that there is a higher "form" for everything that exists in the world.Each material thing is simply a federal agency of the real thing which is theform. According to Plato, most people cannot see the forms, they only see theirrepresentation or their shadows, as in the simile of the cave. Only those wholove knowledge and contemplate on the reality of things will achieveunderstanding of the forms. Philosophers, who by rendering are knowledgelovers, are the only beings who can reach true knowledge. This concept has tobe taken a step further because in The Republic, Plato states that philosophersshould be the rulers since they are the only ones who hold the form of the good.Plato seems to be saying that it is not enough to know the forms of tables ortrees, one must know the greatest form--form of the good--in target to rule. Thereasoning is if you know the good, then you will do the good. Therefore,philosopher rulers are by far the most apt to rule.     In The Republic, Plato builds around the idea of Philosopher Rulers.