Plato and Aristotle Flashcards Preview

Govt 1001 > Plato and Aristotle > Flashcards

Flashcards in Plato and Aristotle Deck (22)
Loading flashcards...
1
Q

Plato advocated for…

A

adult education and class divisions

2
Q

Who was a disciple of whom?

A

Aristotle was a disciple of Plato

3
Q

Plato and Aristotle advanced the outlook that

A

rational argument and inquiry were the key to the establishment of an ideal type of government and politics in society

4
Q

They both rejected…?

A

the use of violence as a means of finding resolutions in the affairs of human beings

5
Q

Plato an Aristotle attempted to try and learn..?

A

how to tame both human beings and nature

6
Q

Why did Plato and Aristotle place human beings at the highest level of the animal world?

A

because they possess the power of speech and reasoning and by virtue of the fact can organize their activities on the basis of thought

7
Q

Plato was a student of ?

A

Socrates

8
Q

P & S both believed

A

in the application of reason and rational inquiry as the key to the establishment of a good life

9
Q

What is meant by the term philosopher Kings?

A

rulers who had both the breeding and the aptitude to be prepared for the task of ruling

10
Q

In crafting of the philosopher king the ruling class had to…?

A
  • selectively breed
  • prepare future rulers with relevant continuous education
  • ensure they acquire the right qualities of a leader (wisdom, leadership, governance)
11
Q

What is more important for Plato & Aristotle? Virtue or Popularity?

A

Virtue

12
Q

Plato’s class structure was based on?

A

his threefold division of the soul

13
Q

The soul was divided into 3 parts ?

A
  • The rational (gives guidance)
  • the spirited (gives animation to thought)
  • the appetitive (expresses desires)
14
Q

His division of society saw it divided into

A
the ruling class 
the soldier-administrative class
 and the producer class
15
Q

What was the chief difference between the ruling class and the producer class?

A

political wisdom and the technical knowledge

16
Q

What was Aristotle’s best form of government and why?

A

Monarchy because it consisted of the best ruler absolutely who would rule in the interests of the society

17
Q

What was his 2nd preference of Government?

A

Aristocracy which would consist of the best persons absolutely who would rule in the best interest of society

18
Q

What is meant by constitutional government or “polity”

A

a compromise between the wealth of the rich and the freedom of the poor

19
Q

What are the true and perverse forms of government according to Aristotle?

A

Monarchy - Tyranny
Aristocracy - Oligarchy
Constitutional government - democracy

20
Q

What was Aristotle’s chief theory about the state?

A

it is a community and that it is the highest of all communities

21
Q

The state is the highest community because of?

A

the evolution of human beings

Logic

22
Q

As far as law and order in the state are concerned Aristotle argued…?

A

that it was better to apply a single principle (the rule of law) to all, than to trust the judgement of any single individual in the application of the law