HCJ: Plato and Aristotle

Plato's Utopia

Plato's most important book, the Republic, consists of three main ideas; defining an ideal world (Utopia), defining what is meant by philosophers and looking at actual constitutions and defining pros and cons.

In Utopia, society is divided into three classes; the common people, the soldiers and the guardians. There is 'a royal lie' which is to be believed by all that is when God created people, each man was created of a substance, guardians were made of gold, soldiers of silver and common people of brass and iron. The reason for this lie is to make people believe they could not strive from who they were as they were created for a particular reason - the purpose of this lie was basically aiming to stop revolt.

Although this was strict, in exceptional cases a child may be promoted or degraded in social groups if deemed appropriate.

The guardians were to act as legislators and basically, censored life in most areas. Entertainment was censored, plays were not to depict any wrong doing and must contain no characters except male heroes of 'good birth'. No man should be willing to imitate a bad man and those who were would have there talent appreciated but would not be welcome in the society. Music was not to express sorrow and must be simple and are expressive of a courageous and harmonious life. The body also needs to be looked after, and the training of the body is to be very austere. Food must be roasted and no confectionery or sauces should be consumed.

Plato proposes communism for the guardians to ensure they are not materialistic. In Plato's view, wealth and poverty are harmful and should not exist in his Utopia.

An unusual trait about Plato's Utopia is that men and women are entirely equal and should have the same education. Equality is key, all common man will share common houses and common meals. Brides and grooms will be bought together in groups by the guardians for marriage and no man will have his own individual wife. They reproduce on eugenic principles and disabled children will be 'disposed' of.  Man is to call anyone that could be the right age of his father as his father, similarly with his mother, brother and sister. This way, emotion and ownership will be removed.

In my opinion, Plato's Utopia would work and have moderate success, however, it would be a very basic life. New ideas would not be formed and there wouldn't be any advances in art, literature or science. If a great problem was to arise where people needed to have compassion, I think the society would crumble, as without emotion, what society could work?

Aristotle's Politics

It is clear that in Aristotle's Politics, he strongly believes power belongs to the state and he doesn't believe in equality.

Although there are some unusual rules, such as 'children should be conceived in winter, when the wind is north', there are also rules that can be related to modern day. One of these is 'there must be a careful avoidance of indecency as shameful words lead to shameful acts'.

The perfect age for a man to marry is 37 years old and 18 years old for a female. Children should be conceived at this time as if it is any earlier, Aristotle believe the children would be weak and female. He believed women were naturally inferior to men, as a slave is naturally inferior to his master. Slaves are not to be Greeks but of an inferior race.

A large part of Aristotle's Politics is concerned with trade. There are two uses of a thing, proper use and improper use. Bertrand Russell uses an example of an item of clothing; it's proper use is to be worn and it's improper use is to be traded. Aristotle believes the natural way of gaining wealth is by skillful management of house and land and the most unnatural way is usury.

From Greek times to present day, society has been divided into debtors (those who disapprove of interest) and creditors (those who approve of interest). Greek philosophers were debtors and believed all man should be. However, after the Reformation, more and more sections of society turned into creditors, including Protestants, the Catholic Church and eventually modern philosophers.

Aristotle believes there are three kinds of government that are good; monarchy, aristocracy and democracy, and there are three of government that are bad; tyranny, oligarchy and democracy. However, he believes the only difference between monarchy and tyranny is ethical.

Continuing with the Greek's 'rule of three', Aristotle also thinks three things are needed to prevent revolution. These are government propaganda in education, respect for law and justice in law and administration.

Aristotle's ideal would be a State strong enough for true independence that was able, by its own efforts, to repel all attempts at foreign conquest. This wouldn't be possible in the size that Aristotle wants a State to be, as a huge State would be needed in order to do this.