To him, ethics and politics are matters of rational judgment, stemming from the natural inclinations of individual humans. This notion is reflected in Aristotle's analysis of the constitutional doctrines of some 158 cities. Essentially, he recognized that every state -- necessarily city states -- exist in unique sets of circumstances that act upon the universal forms of ethics in ways that alter their particular manifestations. Aristotle does, however, put forward his conception of the most realistically achievable form of government that would simultaneously facilitate mankind's natural pursuit of rational happiness. He writes, "We must consider then not only what form of government is best, but also what is possible and easily attainable by all," (Aristotle 321). He concludes, broadly, that democratic and oligarchic governments are the most dangerous, and that a monarchy in the hands of a just ruler would be the most just and efficient. He also makes the same warning heard from later philosophers -- like Machiavelli -- against tyrannies: "Tyranny... is monarchy exercising the rule of a master over political society," (Aristotle 323). In this way, all three major forms of government have their drawbacks, but since human beings are posed with these problems, they must be guided by their reasoning to arrive at practical solutions. Ultimately, the most obvious solution, to Aristotle, is to accept the chance that...
Today, of course, most people in the West imagine the ancient Greeks as having devised the first form of government resting upon acceptable philosophical conceptions of justice and equality. However, classical democracy functioned very differently than our modern versions of democracy; also, they both suffer from problems and imperfections that could, possibly, have been eliminated under Plato's philosopher king. Still, Aristotle's objections to democracy -- as it being too inclusive -- fail to coincide with most currently accepted beliefs about justice. Furthermore, democracy has proven, in modern times, to be relatively stable. So, in the end, most people today are likely to find Pericles' idealistic vision of democracy appealing, while still recognizing that Plato and Aristotle's lines of reasoning retain some merit.
The Plato was acknowledged for his contribution towards the development of the philosophy and arts. The scholar was deeply respected for his interest in the poetry and literature, and content of which narrated the political and social situation of the country, the Plato was always encouraged to join the political wing, but he expressed his reluctance because he believed that the cause was not strong and justified enough to offer
Thucydides and Plato had conflicting methods in their attitudes toward the good life. Thucydides demonstrates empirical thinking in his readings of human nature and comportment throughout the Peloponnesian War and Plato demonstrates normative thinking in the writing within his books and discourses in particular Gorigia. Plato's interpretations of a good life revolve on principles that an individual has reached contentment. What contentment means to Plato is a person who has
" Bell's article underlines the thinking behind Raphael's masterpiece. It is not simply an imagined portrait of famous people; rather it is a philosophical treatise, in symbolic form, of what it meant to be a great man, as embodied in these different figures. Glenn Most, in his 1996 article "The School of Athens and its Pre-text" from Critical Inquiry agrees that the central question of the School of Athens is "How
Athens and Sparta were the two opponents of ancient Greece that clattered most and bestowed us with the majority of customs and traditions. Despite the fact that the two poleis were close together geographically, both differed greatly in their values and ways of living1. Athens and Sparta: History The enriching, intellectual and artistic heritage of ancient Athens to the world is immense and immeasurable. The indications to the Greek legacy that flourish
15). He argues that there is a duty resting on convention, which he considers in a deep and morally weighty sense, based on an implied but nonetheless binding contract between the individual and the state: It is a fact, then," they would say, "that you are breaking covenants and undertakings made with us, although you mad them under no compulsion of misunderstanding, and were not compelled to decide in a limited
belief systems of Christians and Muslim, particularly in how they view angels. Both religions believe angels exist, and that they are an important part of their religious beliefs. They both believe angels can guide and support people here on Earth, and they are messengers of God or Allah. They also believe they can be vengeful and destructive, and angels play an important role in the stories of the Qur'an
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