Ancient Greek Philosophers Plato Aristotle Contributions to Western

Ancient Greek Philosophers Plato & Aristotle Contributions to Western Political Thought

Teacher Preparation • Copy 1 -per-student, back-to-back worksheets: Plato & Aristotle Contributions to Western Political Thought / Letter • Worksheets are at the end of the lecture • The film clips should play automatically. If not, simply close the power point and double -click on film icon. • Key for worksheet is included.

Pair-Share • What do you know about Ancient Greece? • What are the differences between the city-states of Athens and Sparta?

Objective Students will trace the development of the Western political ideas of the rule of law and illegitimacy of tyranny, using selections from Plato's Republic and Aristotle's Politics.

Ancient Greece Introduction

Athens Ancient Greece a coastal city that was a center of trade Athenians were used to merchants, missionaries, artists, scholars, and travelers from other countries Athenians developed democracy Greece is a nation of islands and mountains Sparta the geography resulted in difficulty to communicate and travel between areas located in a valley with huge mountains this led to Ancient Greece developing city-states, where individual cities ruled themselves and few visitors traveled to Sparta some of the land around the city Spartans became war-like and developed Athens and Sparta rose as the most important city-states totalitarianism

Sparta started totalitarianism this is a form of government that uses force and power to rule a people there were three groups: slaves, known as Helots; Spartan females, who were taught to be fit, brave, and patriotic; and Spartan males, all of whom became warriors newborn males judged to be weak were left to die of exposure, at the age of seven, boys left home to live in barracks and receive military training from older boys went barefoot, wore minimal clothing (even in winter), practiced all forms of athletics, and received military instruction they married at age 20 but continued to live in the barracks Helots provided the necessary food and labor for Spartan males and females Sparta

Athens introduced democracy a political system where all citizens participated in governmental activities all citizens were equal before the law and participated in the government slaves and women, however, were not allowed citizenship Athenians eventually abolished slavery and developed a direct democracy where citizens chose the members of the powerful Assembly Athenian youth were encouraged to develop artistic and intellectual talents to such a degree that historians refer to their developments in the arts and politics as a “Golden Age” Athens

Sparta upper classes had all power and privilege Helots (slaves) did all the work Athens all citizens were equal women and slaves were not allowed to become citizens Pair-Share: List more differences between Sparta and Athens

Plato • Plato was born in Athens (Greece) in 428 BC • a good education was essential • started a school and had students like Aristotle • wrote a book called The Republic where he argued that all people should be well-educated • Oligarchy – 1 ruler (philosopher kings –the wisest) • Ruler must be a craftsman, public spirited, and skilled in government • Laws: good for all, a set of guidelines for society • Plato wanted to create a “Perfect” society

Aristotle • lived in ancient Greece • tutored Alexander the Great • believed law and order were needed to stop people becoming selfish and evil • Government: Democracy (all citizens participate in governing • Wrote Politics • best rulers would be a welleducated middle class citizenry • Laws: Good life for all • Wanted to improve the society that already existed

Film Clip: Ancient Greek Philosophy

Wrap-Up Activity • Complete the worksheet: Plato & Aristotle Contributions to Western Political Thought by reading each excerpt and explain the political idea expressed. • Then, write a letter to either Plato or Aristotle explaining: – 1. Two qualities you admire about the person – 2. Two ideas you agree with – 3. Two ideas you do not agree with or do not understand

Plato & Aristotle Contributions to Western Political Thought Directions: Read each excerpt and explain the political idea expressed. The Republic by Plato Politics by Aristotle #1: Justice therefore demands that no one should do more ruling than #1: Then, with the ordinary conventions of civilized life thrown into being ruled, but that all should have their turn. confusion, human nature, . . . showed itself proudly in its true colors, as something incapable of controlling passion, insubordinate to the idea of justice. ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ #2: But since there is but one aim for the entire state, it follows that #2: Until philosophers rule as kings or those who are now called kings and leading men genuinely and adequately philosophise, that is, until political power and philosophy entirely coincide, while the many natures who at present pursue either one exclusively are forcibly prevented from doing so, cities will have no rest from evils, . . . nor, I think, will the human race. ____________________________________________________ education must be one and the same for all, and that the responsibility for it must be a public one, not the private affair which it now s, each man looking after his own children and teaching them privately whatever private curriculum he thinks they ought to study. ____________________________________________________ #3: For as man is the best of all animals when he has reached his full development, so he is worst of all when divorced from law and justice. #3 Democracy is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequal alike. ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ #4: But obviously a state which becomes progressively more and nurse into greatness. . This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when he first appears he is a protector. of a unity will cease to be a state at all. Plurality of numbers is natural in a state; and the farther it moves away from plurality towards unity, the less of a state it becomes and the more a household, and the household in turn an individual. ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ #4: The people have always some champion whom they set over them

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KEY Plato & Aristotle Contributions to Western Political Thought Directions: Read each excerpt and explain the political idea expressed. The Republic by Plato Politics by Aristotle #1: Then, with the ordinary conventions of civilized life thrown into #1: Justice therefore demands that no one should do more ruling than confusion, human nature, . . . showed itself proudly in its true colors, as something incapable of controlling passion, insubordinate to the idea of justice. Answer: Aristotle outlines his belief that all citizens should share in power so that they can be accustomed to ruling and being ruled. Answer: Plato saw man's true nature as rational and believed that civilized society must be organized, and civilized life conducted according to rational principles. #2: Until philosophers rule as kings or those who are now called kings and leading men genuinely and adequately philosophise, that is, until political power and philosophy entirely coincide, while the many natures who at present pursue either one exclusively are forcibly prevented from doing so, cities will have no rest from evils, . . . nor, I think, will the human race. Answer: According to the principles of Athenian Democracy only a few are fit to rule. Instead of rhetoric and persuasion, Plato says reason and wisdom should govern. #3 Democracy is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequal alike. Answer: Disorder in a democracy comes from the idea that everyone is equal, although they are really not. Man should do what he is best at. Some are best at ruling, some are not. #4: The people have always some champion whom they set over them and nurse into greatness. . This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when he first appears he is a protector. Answer: Dictators are often chosen by the people because they promise the protection and peace, not control and tyranny. being ruled, but that all should have their turn. #2: But since there is but one aim for the entire state, it follows that education must be one and the same for all, and that the responsibility for it must be a public one, not the private affair which it now s, each man looking after his own children and teaching them privately whatever private curriculum he thinks they ought to study. Answers: Aristotle develops his argument that the education of the children of citizens should be a public responsibility, since they are the future citizens and rulers of the state. #3: For as man is the best of all animals when he has reached his full development, so he is worst of all when divorced from law and justice. Answer: Aristotle is describing the importance of the relationship between the state and the individual. #4: But obviously a state which becomes progressively more and more of a unity will cease to be a state at all. Plurality of numbers is natural in a state; and the farther it moves away from plurality towards unity, the less of a state it becomes and the more a household, and the household in turn an individual. Answer: Aristotle warnings of the dangers of totalitarianism and the tendency in modern democratic states to manage political opinion with ever-increasing sophistication.