Essay Sample on Aristotle's Critique of Plato's 'The Republic': Solutions for an Ideal State

Aristotle explains his ideal state through his critique of values emphasized in Plato's The Republic. On that note, Aristotle disapproves of Plato's idea of state association through sharing resources (Barker, 1946). Aristotle argued that Plato's theory is detrimental to the unification of the state since it prevents citizens from attaining their societal role to be happy. Even though Aristotle finds many weaknesses in Plato's Republic, he is capable of proposing reasonable solutions that are constructed around the principle permitting each person within the state to achieve societal functions.

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According to Aristotle, there are three forms of science, including theoretical, practical, and productive sciences (Aristotle politics intro lecture). Theoretical sciences focus on understanding the natural concepts regarding creation. Productive sciences deal with the creation of products through the utilization of theoretical skills. Further, practical science focuses on knowledge of the action or the ability to act well.

Man is a political animal. In the statement, Aristotle means that man stays in a more political environment. According to Aristotle, a man lives in a society controlled by laws and customs. Aristotle's beliefs are based on the idea that man is a social creature with the power of moral reasoning and speech.

The states form when humans retain vegetation and animals while expanding into families that grow to villages that later expand to become states. The state forms because of the good life that people desire (Aristotle's politics, Book 3). The state expands starting from a natural union that involves a husband and his wife (Aristotle politics book 1).

In a natural acquisition, individuals acquire things they need without taking extra that may lead to destruction. On the other hand, the unnatural acquisition is when people take acquire goods just because of acquisition joy to generate excessive profits.

What makes good citizens is their contribution to the wellbeing and stability of a state. However, the contribution may differ depending on the type of state. On the other hand, a good man possesses a singular quality unconnected to the constitution of the state (Aristotle politics Book 3). However, according to Aristotle, it is possible for a good citizen also to be a good man, but not every citizen required to embody the good man.

Distributive justice is simply concerned about the socially fair allocation of resources. Numerical equality is based on justice that ensures the distribution of the same quantity of goods to all people. Proportional equality treats all people, depending on their due.

The principle of compensation ensures balance in a manner that is competitive and fair (Aristotle politics book 2). Private ownership and compensation instill temperance and generosity among the citizens of a state. Regarding temperance, people would consume as much as possible with little effort. Additionally, there will be more generosity since no one would go out of their way for anyone else.

Aristotle identifies six forms of government (Aristotle politics book 3). First, there are governments ruled by one named as tyranny and monarchy. Additionally, the governments could be ruled by a few and are referred to as aristocracy and oligarchy. Lastly, governments could be ruled by many and are called polity or democracy. According to the philosopher, when sovereignty resides in an individual, the government becomes a monarchy. Further, the monarchy is a perverted form of tyranny. When sovereignty resides within a small minority of the community, the government becomes aristocratic. Oligarchy is when this small minority of the community uses sovereignty for their selfish reasons. Polity is when sovereign power exists in a large proportion of the country's population. Democracy refers to a perverted form of polity.

Demagoguery and dynasty happen in both democratic and oligarchy government when rulers place themselves above the law (Aristotle politics book 4). In demagoguery, people hold power for identity. On the other hand, the dynasty focuses on the heredity of power from one generation to another but from the same family. Aristotle was afraid because demagoguery and dynasty could bewilder people, a consequence that is not ethical.

Aristotle placed much emphasis on the middle class because he thought that the category could disappear. According to Aristotle, the poor would become the majority when the middle class disappears. The poor class are less educated and tend to struggle than the rich. On that note, when the poor become the majority, they will vote to grab money from the rich. The rich would respond by trying to eliminate democracy and limiting the power of the government since it will be a threat to them. Therefore, the disappearance of the middle class would make democracy vanish.

Some factors lead to constitutional changes. According to Aristotle, a constitution could change when different groups have varied ideas regarding justice and inequality (Aristotle politics book 5). As democrats know that people are equal, oligarchs believe that inequality in wealth shows inequality on an absolute scale. The poor and the wealthy, therefore, become liable to form different factions, every group trying to modify the constitution. Aristotle emphasized that prevention is always better than cure. According to Aristotle, the revolution could be prevented when the rulers obey laws even when matters seem small. Aristotle believed that disobedience at any level leads to violation and disrespect. Additionally, Aristotle suggested that rulers should take care of their people and avoid discriminating against all citizens.

Aristotle claimed that the end of people's life is to flourish and live well or have a good life. According to Aristotle, a person that lives well must possess goods of the body, external goods, and goods of the soul (Aristotle politics book 7). However, there are other goods that human desires such as wealth, power, and pleasure. Regarding these desires, Aristotle viewed a good life as when a person possesses all those things that are good for them.

References

Aristotle's politics. Lecture presentations.

Barker, E. (1946). Aristotle: Politics.