GOVT 1001 - Topic #1

Classical thinking-Plato and Aristotle

Pre-Greek political thought was based on a mixture of_________

legend, myth, theology and allegory.

Greek inventiveness lay in the discovery of _________

the scientific study of politics.

The contribution of the Greeks

speaks to “The taming of man and nature through_______

reason.”

Plato lived between ____-____B.C.

427-347 B.C.

Plato was famous for his work

"The Republic"

“The Republic” applied______

systematic reasoning and critical inquiry to political ideas and institutions

A main assumption of "The Republic" was that ______

the right kind of government and politics can be legitimate object of rigorous, rational analysis, rather than the product of fear, faith, indolence and improvisation. (Indolence-Laziness)

Plato had a peculiar perspective that in "The Republic" he put forward what we call_______

"a political blue print" of the state in which he claim it was the perfect state system.

Plato was proposing: the derivation of the perfect state, the perfect system of governance can be achieved through what we call_______

Rational Analysis

Socrates was ____ first teacher and he is the chief figure in ____

Plato's, "The Republic".

Socrates trained Plato to_____

endlessly search, through argument, for the reason that lies behind accepted ideas and institutions.

Implicit in Plato's and Socrates' rationalism is the assumption, incompatible with the_____

cult of violence, that philosophical inquiry can lead to the good life.

Plato's threefold division of the soul-influenced his theory about_____

the threefold division of society

Plato’s “Threefold Division” of the soul is_____

the "rational", the "spirited" and the "appetitive" were the three divisions.

In Plato’s Division of the Soul "Rational" was the _____

highest

(Plato’s) In the division of the soul "Spirited" had the _____

capacity to follow and assert the claims of reason

(Plato’s) In the division of the soul "appetitive" ______

harbored desires and emotions and was lowest.

Plato's division of society is a_____

numerically small aristocracy of rulers in command of a well-trained body of soldiers and administrators governing a third class or producers.

Plato’s (Division of Society) - The main difference between the ruler-philosophers and the producers was the difference between _____

"political wisdom" and "technical knowledge"

In (Plato’s) the “Division of the Society” a numerically small aristocracy of rulers in command” will be equivalent to_____ in the “Division of the Soul”

"Rational"

In (Plato’s) the “Division of the Society”, a well-trained body of soldiers and administrators will be equivalent to_____ in the“Division of the Soul,”

"Spirited"

In (Plato’s) the “Division of the Society,” third class or producers will be equivalent to_____ in the“Division of the Soul,”

“Appetitive"

Plato was an able exponent of “Aristocratic Theory” and opposed ______

Democracy

(Plato) (The Philosopher King) The capacity to govern was possessed by a ______

small class and can be transmitted by selective breeding.

(Plato) (The Philosopher King) Prolonged education was reserved for this _______

hereditary aristocratic ruling class only.

(Plato) (The Philosopher King) The preparation of rulers was based on the pairing of _______

the parents to ensure the highest physical and mental qualities of the offspring.

Aristotle lived between ___ - ___ B.C.

384 - 322 BC

Aristotle was a student of _______

Plato

One of Aristotle's famous works was _______

"The Politics".

Aristotle opens "The Politics" with two key ideas:

• The state is a community; and,

• It is the highest of all communities.

Aristotle's views the State as "natural" in two ways.

• The evolution of social institutions from the family through the village to the state.

• The state was prior to the family and the village as the whole is prior to the part.

Aristotle’s POV (the State as the highest form of community)

“In the family, mankind is _______”

reproduced

Aristotle’s POV (the State as the highest form of community). “In the village, elementary wants of _______

human companionship are satisfied.

Aristotle’s POV (the State as the highest form of community). “In the state alone, people realize their _______

entire selves and the highest part of themselves.”

Of true governments, Aristotle distinguishes three _________

• Monarchy

• Aristocracy

• Constitutional Government

Aristotle’s true government each form had its pervasion, namely ______

• Tyranny

• Oligarchy

• Democracy

According to Aristotle a perversion of Monarchy is ______

Tyranny

According to Aristotle a perversion of Aristocracy is ______

Oligarchy

According to Aristotle a perversion of Constitutional government is _______

Democracy

Aristotle’s Definition of a “Monarchy” ______

The best form with all virtue centred in one "pre-eminent" person. (Power centred in one)

Aristotle’s Definition of an “Aristocracy"

government formed of the best men absolutely (power centered in a few)

Aristotle’s Definition of a “Constitutional government”

the state that the citizens at large administer for the common interest. (Power centred in the majority)

Aristotle’s Definition of “Tyranny” ______

government by the ruler for the sole personal benefit of the ruler.

Aristotle’s Definition of “Oligarchy” _______

government by the wealthy few of their own class benefit.

Aristotle’s Definition of “Democracy” _______

government by the poor for the poor only.

Like Plato, Aristotle put virtue of the rulers _______

above consent of the ruled.

Aristotle spoke of monarchy and aristocracy as the________

"perfect state" with monarchy being better than aristocracy.

According to Aristotle, in a “Monarchy”, virtue is________

centered

According to Aristotle the “best perversion” is considered to be _______

a mixture of BOTH Democracy and Oligarchy

According to Aristotle in aristocracy, it is ______

diffused

Plato searched for_______

perfect justice

Aristotle conceded that man-made law could never______

attain perfect justice.

Aristotle felt that "the rule of law" was _______

preferable to that of any individual

In modern times, the rule of law is regarded as ______

a pillar of democratic systems.