One of the significant differences in the views of human nature is found between Plato’s and Machiavelli’s one. Plato tends to associate human nature with reason and rationality. It is reason which differentiates human from other beings and enables us to attain true knowledge about the universe. In Republic, Plato describes the inner conflict among three aspects of the human soul: reason, spirit and appetite. He makes it clear that if these parts are not in a correct order, a person will not have
Plato’s The Republic: Book 1 opens with Socrates discussing the definition of justice with interlocutors: Cephalus, Polemarchus, and Thrasymachus. Cephalus sparks the debate by offering his definition of justice: And it is this consideration, I think, that makes riches chiefly valuable . . . for the decent and orderly person. Not to have cheated or lied to anyone against one’s will, not to leave for the other world in fear, owing sacrifices to a god or money to a man, to this wealth contributes a
splitted into three parts. The first part will focus on Plato’s description of citizen’s duties, followed by Aristotle’s view on it. The comparison and highlighting of the differences and similarities between philosophers will be given at the next part. Finally, it will be concluded that Aristotle and Plato have a range of notable differences as well as similarities in their views on citizen’s role in the society. PLATO Plato, in his book called “Republic” gave a broad amount of his thoughts on what it is
mathematics and rhetoric. It was at the age of 20 that Plato met Socrates and since then was mesmerized by him. So deep was his influence on him that he gave up the idea of becoming a poet. In 404 BC Athens witnessed an oligarchic revolution led by Plato’s relatives. Plato was very active at that time. But after the death of Critias, Charmides and the execution of Socrates, he left Athens and became a refugee.
Similar to Plato, Aristotle considered also justice as a virtue yet contrary to Plato, he thought that justice is not in the soul, but in the actions. Aristotle emphasizes also the relational and reciprocal character of justice and stated that justice can be exercised only in relation to other individuals (NE, 1129b30). Aristotle distinguishes justice between general justice