Ross Rainier A.

Pabalate
CIVICS
III C
PLATO AND ARISTOTLE ON DEMOCRACY
Plato and Aristotle are considered to be the two most influential Greek
philosophers of their time. These two men have maintained a relationship
that lasted for almost twenty years. Aristotle was Platos pupil and served to
be the master of the latter. Plato, the philosopher, is more of an idealist. He
has shown this through his abstractions, his dialogues and his mystical
thoughts. Aristotle, on the other hand, who is a rationalist, was concerned
with material things, methodical inventories and systemization. The two are
known for political theories. Plato is regarded by many as the first writer of
political philosophy while Aristotle is recognized as the political scientist.
They have argued about politics, most especially, on democracy and the
form of government. Both Plato and Aristotle wanted a change in the
democratic government, since it is known to be corrupt.
What is comparable about their views on democracy is that generally,
they want a better government for the place. They both criticized democracy
as a poor form of government. Platos argument is that democracy causes
corruption to the people, by way of public opinion and it results to the
creation of rulers who are not knowledgeable on ruling but only on
influencing the people. In a similar way, Aristotles thoughts say that
democratic positions will just cause corruption in the people and that if they
choose to redistribute the wealth of the rich ones, it will result to chaos and
destruction of the state since they have no knowledge about governance
when they elect rulers. The two agree that justice is objective in sense, that
good life should be provided to all individuals regardless of social status.
Furthermore, because the problem on this type of government, Plato left
Athens, and Aristotle, as well.

Basically, the similarity between the two philosophers points of view

are in one general sense of disapproving democracy. However, there are
more specific differences on what they want for the government. On one
hand, in Plato considering that democracy is corrupt and unjust, he said it
will not lead the people toward but away from enlightenment. He explained
on the idea of the good thing about being just, that a democratic man does
welcome true reasoning, and has no discipline in his life since all pleasures
are equal. He found many faults with democracy. One more is that good and
bad depends on what the majority of the people think, without any
justification or consideration. The minor group who can be right loses since it
is the power of the many. Unlike Aristotle, Plato attempted to design an ideal
society or government. He made a blueprint in his book The Republic in
which the problems he thought would be present in the society would be
eased. He also tried to duplicate how Socrates taught Philosophy. He is after
the goal of a just man, a man who knows true reasoning and real betterment
of oneself. Consequently, the ultimate goal of Plato of having a just man in
the society is none other than a perfect society.
On the other hand, Aristotle, is not much of perfecting a society. He
just wants to improve an existing one. He believed that monarchy and
aristocracy are the best forms of government. He confirms that the best form
of government would be ruled by properly educated people. Letting the poor
people who are uneducated, take government offices, will cause err and
crime. He believed that the society must be composed of educated people.
He described positive forms of government. In contrast with Plato, he
suggested in his book The Politics that the society should reach for the best
possible system that could be attained rather than devise a blueprint of a
perfect society. Aristotle discovers that the best possible has already been
obtained like the types mentioned. All that can be done is to try to improve
the existing one.
Aristotle is the same as Plato in wanting for a change in the form of
democratic government. They both aim for a government that will be good

for all the people. Democracy will just bring about corruption and unjust
people. The society must be composed of educated ones. The government
must provide the people the good life no matter what their social statuses
are.