Political Philosophy, By Steven Cahn

In The Republic by Plato, Plato constructed an ideal city where Philosophers would rule. Governed by an aristocratic form of government, it took away some of the most basic rights a normal citizen should deserve, freedom of choice, worship, and assembly were distressed. Though the idea of philosopher kings is good on paper, fundamental flaws of the human kind even described by Plato himself prevent it from being truly successful. The idea of an ideal democratic government like what our founding fathers had envisioned is the most successful and best political form which will ensure individual freedom and keep power struggle to a minimum.

Over the length of this course, we have discussed several aspects of politics. We have studied citizenship and obligations to society as a citizen, justice and what it means to us as individuals, and how to go about enacting change within a community and around the world. Some of the most important topics from this class included the characteristics, duties, and obligations of rulers of government. In addition to the concept of rulers, we also studied the notion of authority and the moral and metaphysical implications of authority to individuals ' autonomy. Within each concept of study, we read works from many authors with conflicting ontologies, constructed from their differing views on human nature.

Socrates, Machiavelli, and Rousseau are three philosophers discussing political ethics from entirely different perspectives. This paper argues that Socrates, Machiavelli, and Rousseau are all idealists regarding their stances on political ethics. First, this paper argues that Socrates is an idealist due his belief that the current government has much more potential than it is currently reaching, and that the government could eventually be changed. Second, this paper argues that Rousseau is an idealist because of his unrealistically positive view of the natural state of humanity and negative view of society. Lastly, this paper argues that Machiavelli is idealistic because of the overwhelming, impossible number of criteria that the Prince

Political Philosophy is typically a study of a wide range of topics such as, justice, liberty, equality, rights, law, politics and the application of a codified law. Depending on what the philosophy is, it usually tends to be a very sensitive and a personal ideology that an individual holds within the reality of their existence. Several of the fundamental topics of political philosophy shape up the society that we live in as these specific topics and their implementation by the state ensures a legitimate government. In Political Philosophy, the aforesaid concepts or topics are evaluated and analyzed with tremendous depth in context to their history and intent. Furthermore, in a rather colloquial sense, political

By looking at the readings of Machiavelli, Hobbes, and Locke, there are a few distinctions between how the modern thinkers viewed politics versus the way the ancient thinkers believed politics should be. There are many topics both modern and ancient thinkers discuss in their writings, such as the purpose of politics, the science of politics, human nature, as well as the ideal regime. By doing so, these thinkers’ views on political topics such as these illuminate how they thought politics should work and who should be able to participate in the activity of politics.

Fascinating as these two subjects may be when they intertwine, philosophy and politics are possibly the two most polarizing things in both academia and throughout society in general, from Karl Marx arguing the idea that all human beings are loyal to their respective socioeconomic classes in some way to Henry David Thoreau proposing that all people should be self-reliant and that society prospers when there is little to no state control. On the other hand, there are two opposing principles of ethics that still find themselves in heated debate among politicians and philosophers alike today, with these two principles being utilitarianism and Kantian ethics (otherwise known as “deontology”). Meanwhile, The Founding Fathers were also polarized on how to best govern the newly formed United States of America; eventually, they settled on the principles of freedom, democracy, and most interestingly, equality. Fast-forwarding to the year 2081 is a new dystopian United States characterized by physical equality in Kurt Vonnnegut, Jr.’s 1961 satirical short story, “Harrison Bergeron”.

Socrates, a critic of Athenian society, is also known as a critic of democracy. “Athens is a democracy, a city in which the many are the dominant power in politics, and it can therefore be expected to have all the vices of the many” (“Socrates’ criticism of democracy,” Encyclopedia Britannica). Socrates claims that he did not want to take part in government because he feared imprisonment or death, which eventually became his fate. Socrates’ problem with democracy was his concern with the citizens who run the

Let us carry this line of thought back to the issue of democracy. As Socrates suggested in Plato’s

In The Republic of Plato, Plato, in addition to sharing his views on justice, shares his views on democracy using a fictionalized Socrates to outline the most pressing issues. Plato’s views on democracy are negative; he believes democracy to be bred from a response to inequality of wealth and to heighten all of humanities worst traits. Plato believes democracy leads to unequipped leaders who hold offices and power without the necessary traits and preparation.

Socrates’, Plato’s, and Aristotle’s main criticisms of democracy were based on both theory and precedents. Whereas Plato and Aristotle believed that democracy could lead to mob rule in part due to group-think based on a population’s impulses, Socrates advocated that governance should not be solicited based on the citizenry’s desires at any given time. Aristotle advocated that democracy was indeed the best form of government, or better said he believed democracy to be lesser of the forms of government. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle all believed that only the wisest should govern because those governed might squander resources and wealth, make decisions based on emotion, and revolt due to a perceived or real notion of inequality.

In The Republic, Plato was highly influenced by Socrates' beliefs that a democracy in the Athenian society was useless. At this time Socrates had already been executed for teaching his philosophy, however Plato believed that reason alone would guide the Greeks out of their political turmoil. His theory was, philosophers should be kings to better the welfare of the government and people. Plato quotes "genuine philosophers are those whose passion it is to see the truth."(82) One bias example that Plato opposed, was using the human body at the artists disposal. What makes the artists vision of a human body perfection? Who is wise enough

different views on the social contract and what comprises a legitimate government, all of which are informed by their beliefs on human nature. Government must possess three key elements to make it legitimate, namely that it must be based on the consent of the governed, kept accountable to the people’s will, and prioritize a person’s individual liberty. If a governing system is not meeting these goals, its very purpose is called into question, because these factors ultimately create a government that works for the people’s benefit. Of these three philosophers, only one provides an adequate form of legitimate government: Locke. His proposed government is one that, based on a realistic state of nature, relies on the people’s consent and acts functionally in the majority’s favor, provides for a dissolution of government should it become tyrannical, and prioritizes a person’s individual liberty by reinforcing natural law.

Political theorists emphasize the relationship between humans and their government when examining possible forms of society, for this is the most crucial element of political structure. In nearly every theorized society, humans empower their government, which in turn benefit them. How humans empower their government and the benefits received is where philosophers often differ. For example, Aristotle believes the purpose of politics is to better the lives of the citizens. Their lives are bettered partially through the individual participation of the citizens as through citizens sharing in the administration of justice and the holding of public office. Political involvement is a privilege of citizens, who are free from the necessary tasks of lives like manual laborers. Politics is dependent on good citizenry, which is achieved by upholding a constitution that the collective has approved. Conversely, Hobbes focuses on the protection of his citizens as a purpose of government. As powerful as some men may be, power united is the greatest power according to Hobbes. The belief in unified power is much of the driving force behind Hobbes’ Leviathan and as his purpose for politics. Despite the differences between the two philosophers proposed purpose of politics, both purposes come from the philosophers’ view of the components of society. As the most basic unit of society, human natures drive the purpose of politics in both Hobbes’ and Locke’s forms of government.

Plato was a mentor of Aristotle lending ideas to his student about composition and operation of citizens, city state, and political regimes. Although Aristotle criticized Plato’s notion of ranking democracy at a fourth position out of five competing systems of government, he agreed with Plato that democracy is the corrupt form of government as it violates justice of proportionality. The concept of justice of proportionality is to answer who is the most deserving. This is explained in an analogy of whoever deserves the best flute. A rich or a handsome man have no business with the flute, but the best flute player does. Similarly, in political competition, according to Plato, the man most deserving to rule is the either a philosophers king or for Aristotle, the most educated man in the field of politics.

Political philosophy is the study of basic questions about the state, government, politics, liberty, justice etc. political philosophy is concerned with the concepts and arguments involves in political opinion. It is ethics applied to a group of people, discusses about societies set up.In political philosophy it is important to know what ought to be a person’s relationship in a society. This seeks application of ethical concepts to social sphere. It is a standard which help to analyze and judge existing institutions and relationships. According to Bernard Williams “political philosophy is not just applied moral philosophy, which is what in our culture it is often taken to be….political philosophy must use distinctively political concepts, such as power, and its normative relative, legitimation.” Leo Strauss has said “Philosophy is the quest for wisdom and political philosophyis the attempt truly to know about the nature of political things and the right or the good political order.” In the history of political philosophy, many philosophers have born and influence the era with their theory. There some renowned philosopher from ancient time to modern are Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau etc.They gave theory on state, Justice, government, education. In western political history Plato is a legend philosopher whose thought considered wealth of the century and till influence the people’s thinking world.The Republic is his famous book where he