Aristotle and Plato Outline and Annotated Bibliography

Both Aristotle and Plato were infamous philosophers, mathematicians, and scientists. They are responsible for a great number of theories in the history of philosophy has developed some philosophical ideas that have greatly helped to shape the role and the relationship of the authorities, governments and the people they govern. Plato wondered why people, especially those in authorities and favorable social status, could not subsume their own interests for the sake of the interests of the society. He believed that this was an important principle for the achievement of a perfect system of political governance. On the other hand, Aristotle was in favor of a centralized form of governance complete with rules and regulations. He concludes that society could not be able to detach itself from politics, that politics is imperative for the achievement of economic stability and a source of just systems of governance. This paper analyzes the Plato and Aristotle political philosophy and social machinations that helped to address and solve various societal issues.

Discussion

1. Plato

Aristotle and Plato are considered to be the pioneer fathers of modern Western Philosophy, though much emphasis has been given to Aristotle’s works.

1. Plato was Aristotle’s teacher for a period of about 20 years. He was also his colleague at the Academy in Athens. This was mainly an institution of Mathematics and philosophical research having been founded by Plato himself.
2. However, even as Aristotle was Plato’s student for all those years and having worked together in research activities, his philosophy would fundamentally change in the years after especially in certain principles and elements of philosophy.
3. Plato
4. Primarily, Plato is revered for founding the Academy of mathematics and philosophy and also for his dialogues. In essence, the academy is considered in the Academic circles to be the first functional University in Europe and the West.
5. Plato borrowed much of his content and basis for his arguments from the teachings of his mentor Socrates. His written dialogues convey and expand on the teachings by Socrates. The academy that Plato Founded trained some of the greatest minds in Philosophy including Aristotle.
6. Aristotle
7. Aristotle was a Greek philosopher having been trained by Plato at the Academy in Athens. He is also revered as one of the greatest minds in the world of Philosophy, Mathematics, and science.
8. Unlike Plato, much of the works of Aristotle were well preserved as he usually wrote down his ideas and theories. His teachings and ideologies, therefore, became the backbone of philosophy and while creating a framework for the renown Medieval Islamic and Christian Scholasticism and philosophy.
9. Conclusion
10. It is not possible to explore elements of philosophy without considering critically the dialogues and teachings of both Plato and Aristotle. Though similar in some aspects, their philosophical approaches, and ideas about certain aspects of social co-existence and science.
11. Nonetheless, it is these differences that brought much insight to philosophy as between them they were able to explore a myriad of ideas and subjects in philosophy

References

Barker, E. (2012). The political thought of Plato and Aristotle. Courier Corporation.

Hampton, J. (2018). Political philosophy. Routledge.

Hunt, M. (2009). The story of psychology. Anchor.

Mannheim, K. (2013). Ideology and utopia. Routledge.

Nelson, B. R. (2015). Western Political Thought: From Socrates to the Age of Ideology. Waveland Press.