Plato, Aristotle, and Cicero are three ancient philosophers who have contributed heavily to political theory as we know it today. Plato wrote his seminal work, Republic, which outlined his ideal version of a government and state. In this work, Plato discussed what was necessary in order to rule properly and what tenants were needed for an efficient, fair government.
Aristotle wrote Politics, which explores the connection between man’s life and his political and civic duty. According to him, political activism is one of the most vital responsibilities of citizen. He holds this idea up as an ethical value that must be maintained.
Finally, Cicero was a great master of debate and a Roman politician. He championed the idea of oration and the importance of being an effective communicator when it comes to the political arena. All of these ideas have since become foundational to modern politics.
Perhaps Plato's most influential work of political philosophy was Republic, a radical work not just for his period but for all time. One of the radical ideas espoused by Plato was that it is the quality of a person's soul rather than the accidents of their birth that matters. For Plato, whether one is born a man or woman, slave or aristocrat, it should have no bearing on one's eventual role or career, only one's skills and knowledge. This is the foundation of modern meritocracy. Plato's idealism leads him to reject convention and seek deeper truths.
In Politics 2.8, Aristotle argues that laws should not be immutable but that there should be a process for changing and updating laws. This moderate and reasonable view is part of Aristotle's notion that in the realm of politics, one can only achieve good opinions supported by argument rather than certain knowledge. Rather than having an absolute system of moral precepts, he argues for promoting eudaimonia, or well-being, and thus is pragmatic in the ways he thinks that goal can be achieved.
Cicero's belief in natural law leads to a respect for individual rights and opposition to tyranny. This concept of natural rights can be seen in the constitutions of many modern states.
Plato's most famous political writing is The Republic, wherein he discusses the ideal state and comes to the conclusion that the best government would be provided by the rule of an elite influenced and informed by philosophical ideals, the so-called "philosopher kings." He was suspicious of democracy, which he equated with mob-rule (his experience watching how Athens turned on his mentor Socrates likely soured him on group thinking). He suggested that the masses were ignorant and could be easily misled. Through the manipulation of a powerful leader, this could become tyranny. His skeptical, critical approach to democracy remains important today.
Aristotle's Politics is his text in which he discusses various types of government and constitutions. This complements the ethical claims in Nicomachean Ethics. His basic belief is that "man is a political animal" and that his role in public affairs is more important than his personal life. It is political participation that truly gives life meaning. In this sense, Aristotle can be understood as championing the local political activity and engagement that forms the backbone of modern American political life.
Cicero was a great Roman statesman famous for his many writings and voluminous correspondence. Cicero was a republican, a defender of the Senate and the institutions of Roman law and government in an age when Julius Caesar and those who followed him (Octavian, Mark Anthony) were seeking to coalesce power and challenge republican virtues. Cicero's greatest contribution to political thought is his many writings, which emphasize the importance of rhetoric. He was a powerful orator, and his greatest contemporary contribution is in highlighting the importance of how a political idea is expressed.
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