Annalytical Essay

Philosophy is defined as a critical analysis of fundamental beliefs. The greatest philosophers in the western world: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, all believed in the idea of justice and the human soul. When they started forming their own beliefs, though, they were headed in different directions. Plato stressed on the true meaning of justice, and how all people deserved to be equal, while Aristotle felt that governing a state all depends on the needs of that specific state. Each philosopher had his views on political ideas, each with a different perspective as the next. Plato and Aristotle=s views on the structure of government, and cruel rulings of tyranny show how greatly the Western political ideas have developed, which, in turn, has brought our world to the present political structures.

The views of Plato and Aristotle on the ideal structure of government differ greatly. According to Aristotle, the structure of government needed to satisfy the need of the state. He felt that he must A=consider what is the best constitution and the best way of life for the majority of states and men=@ (Barker 180). Aristotle felt that the best structure of government would be a democracy, which can be a form of a constitutional government; though one needs to alter the guidelines of a government in order to satisfy that specific city. By using the idea of democracy, Aristotle states, in his book Politics, that he was trying to Aimprove the quality of the deliberative body by applying to it the plan which oligarchies apply to the meetings of the law court@ (Barker 192). Aristotle liked the idea of a democracy, with a twist of oligarchy added to it.

Plato, however, completely distrusted the views that Aristotle had. He felt as though democracy could potentially turn into tyranny, because citizens were voted in by a majority vote, and many of those people had no plans, no answers other then the ones the people wanted to hear. The most successful structure of government Plato thought was one of a Philosophical Aristocracy. Plato felt that until the government would change, Athere will be no end to the troubles of states, or of humanity itself, till philosophers become kings in this world, or till those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers, and political power and philosophy thus come into the same hands." (Jowett 447). Having a philosophical government is smart because they acquire true knowledge and are thus those suited to govern. Allowing someone like this to rule, gives the states an advantage because the ruler knows what he is doing. Both philosophers, Plato and Aristotle, supported their ideas with thorough evidence, which shows that they were experienced and knew what they were talking about.

Though Plato and Aristotle had diverse views on the ideal structure of government, their outlooks on tyranny fell under the same category. Aristotle revealed that he felt as though a tyranny was a combination of the most extreme and harmful elements of oligarchy and democracy. Tyrannies were usually unstable, and may be fallen by outside forces or by the hatred and dislike of inside forces. Tyrannies, in Aristotle=s opinion, tend to be one of the shortest-lived forms of government because of its unfair ruling. Similarly,