Plato, Aristotle, and Classical Political Thought

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards reviewing key political thinkers, schools of philosophy, historical events, and terminology from Ancient Greece and Rome based on lecture notes.

Alfred North Whitehead

The philosopher who stated, "The entire history of Western culture is but a footnote to Plato".

Oeconomicus

A work written by Xenophon concerning the proper administration of private household management and public affairs.

The Republic

A major work written by Plato in 380 BC covering politics, psychology, morality, education, culture, eugenics, and economics.

The Statesman

A dialogue written by Plato in 360 BC depicting an all-knowing ruler who holds the right to rule rather than ruling by consent.

The Laws

Plato's final, unfinished work in which he presented a more realistic state model after realizing there can be no Philosopher King.

Nomos

Greek term used in Athenian politics referring to law and custom.

The Academy

The first college, founded by Plato in 388 BC in a grove of trees sacred to the hero Academus or Hecademus.

Philosopher King

Plato's ideal ruler who possesses a constant passion for knowledge, is temperate, quick to learn, good at remembering, and not a lover of money.

Plato's Composition of the Soul

The division of the human soul into three parts corresponding to political classes: Reason (Philosopher Kings), Spirit/Courage (soldier guardians), and Appetite (workers).

Plato's Classification of States

The system classifying governments into Law-Abiding forms (Monarchy, Aristocracy, Polity) and Lawless/Perverted forms (Tyranny, Oligarchy, Democracy).

Polity

In Plato and Aristotle's classification, the worst of the law-abiding states; defined as a constitutional government mixing the demands of the poor and the rich.

Mixed Constitution

Aristotle's best practicable state that judiciously combines oligarchy and democracy, relying on a large middle class to maintain balance between quality and quantity.

Deliberative Branch

The branch of government that exercises ultimate legal power of the state in making war and peace, concluding treaties, auditing magistrates' accounts, and legislation.

The Lyceum

The school founded by Aristotle in Athens in 335 BC, named after its location in an old temple of Apollo.

Peripatetics

Meaning "people who walk around," the name given to Aristotelians because Aristotle walked while discussing arguments with colleagues.

Aristotle's Four Causes

The framework explaining nature where Matter is provided by the mother, Form is the structure, Moving cause is provided by the father, and Final cause is the organism's intended mature end.

Antalcidas Treaty (387-6 BCE)

The treaty under which Persia ruled on matters of war and peace among Greek city-states until the League of Corinth transferred that power to King Philip.

Epicureanism

A philosophical school founded by Epicurus in 306 BC aimed at achieving individual self-sufficiency and happiness through the enjoyment of pleasure and the avoidance of pain, worry, and anxiety.

The Cynics

A school of philosophy founded by Antisthenes that held contempt for conventionalities, viewed all social institutions as artificial, and taught that everything except character is indifferent.

Orphic Religion

An ancient mystery religious tradition centered on the concept of the sin of man.

Eleusinian Religion

A mystery religion centered on rituals of death and resurrection parallel to the agricultural cycle, offering refuge in a future life.

Stoicism

A philosophy founded by Zeno around 300 BC at the Painted Porch teaching that all humans possess reason, natural law is universal, and happiness comes from inner tranquility and suppressing destructive emotions.

Cicero (106-43 BC)

A Roman lawyer and orator who wrote De Republica, defined natural law as supreme reason, and described a people as a group associated by consent and natural gregariousness.

Marcus Aurelius

Roman Emperor (161 AD-180 AD) and Stoic philosopher who authored Meditations, exploring individual spiritual experience and the courage to face death.