Plato was influenced by the Peloponnesian War and death of his mentor Socrates, which led him to write about Socrates' teachings and establish the Academy. Aristotle was Plato's most famous student, though he disagreed with Plato on some topics. Both philosophers made important contributions to political science - Plato believed in an ideal state ruled by a philosopher-king, while Aristotle believed the state existed to benefit citizens and should be ruled by law. Their differing perspectives reflected Plato's idealism and Aristotle's pragmatism.

1. -By Vinay Kumar Singh
-BA (Hons.) Political Science
-5th Semester

2. ▪ Plato: was greatly influenced by the Peloponnesian War (between Athens & Spartans) and the
death of Socrates (his master). Athens lost to Sparta, despite having a democratic government
and his mentor (Socrates) was sentenced to death as he raised voice against the poor
administration and corrupt rule. Socrates was ordered to drink poison as a punishment since
he educated people to question the ill-doing of the government authorities. Due to this
incident, Plato went in agony and started writing about the saying and beliefs of his master.
▪ Aristotle: was Plato's favorite student. Plato called him the "mind of the academy". However,
Aristotle disagreed with his teacher on a variety of topics. Aristotle was not only the greatest
disciple of Plato but also his greatest critique.

3. • Birth: 424 or 428 BC
• Death: 348 BC (Aged – 80)
• Athenian Philosopher
• Student of Socrates
•Teacher of Aristotle
• Founded Plato’s Academy: first ever institution
of higher learning in the Western countries.
• Said to be the “First Utopian Philosopher”
• Wrote – The Republic, The Laws and
Statesman

4. • Father of Political Science
• Greek Philosopher
• Birth: 385 BC
• Death: 323 BC (Aged – 62)
• Student of Plato & teacher of Alexander the
Great (Macedonian King)
• Considered - Last man to know everything
there was to be known in his time.
• Founded Lyceum

6. • Aware of the instability in the politics and society of Greece.
• Gave importance to law and justice in the State.
• Stress on control of the population and says that low population a state is necessary
for good administration.
• Limited people of the state should participate in the politics of the state.
• Considered State should be a moral and religious-based institution. The state is
necessary for the development of an individual.
• Opposed "Democracy". Plato even called democracy as "Mobocracy" as he was in an
agony of the death of his master Socrates, who died in a democratic rule of Athens.
• Gave importance to education & suggested a state-controlled education system. They
believed that education is very important as it tells citizens about their rights and
responsibilities towards the welfare of the state.

7. PLATO
▪ Used deductive methods of criticism. Plato
formed general conclusions based on specific
incidences.
▪ Plato used dialectal method.
▪ Radical
▪ Plato believes that only a Philosopher King
can establish an ideal state
ARISTOTLE
▪ Used Inductive methods of criticisms.
Aristotle formed specific conclusions based
on observing many common incidences
▪ Aristotle also discarded the oracular method
& dialectal method.
▪ Conservative
▪ Aristotle criticizes the concept of Philosopher
King.

8. PLATO
▪ Plato believes that citizens should always
work for the State's well being and
protection of their motherland.
▪ Plato believes in the communism of property
and wives i.e. he believes that the Kings and
soldiers can’t have private property or wife,
No one allowed to identify a child as their
own since it leads to nepotism. Plato calls
family and private properties as the root
cause of problems in society.
▪ Plato’s academy – was called Recreation Spot
Academy.
ARISTOTLE
▪ Aristotle argues that State was formed for
the welfare of the people and State is a
"community of communities“.
▪ Aristotle believes that property and families
are necessary for the development of an
individual and provide him with emotional
support.
▪ Aristotle’s academy was called – Lyceum.

9. PLATO
▪ EXTREMISM: Plato was
idealistic/perfectionist i.e. he goes into the
extreme.
▪ POLITICS & ETHICS: Plato considers ethics as
an integral part of Politics.
ARISTOTLE
▪ GOLDEN MEAN: Aristotle believes in the
middle-path/Golden mean i.e. he believed in
moderation and not extremism. Eg. Golden
mean concept. Aristotle further says that one
should not sacrifice good for the sake of
achieving best, because best is un-
achievable. He believed in common sense
rather than any specialized training for the
philosophers.
▪ Aristotle separates the study of politics and
ethics altogether.

10. PLATO
▪ STATE AS A FAMILY: Plato considers the state
as a big family and the philosopher-king as
the father of the family that has absolute
authority over it. Like members of the family
make sacrifices for each other, similarly, he
expects citizens to make sacrifices in a state.
▪ More idealistic in his perspective.
▪ Plato's talks about philosopher-king who
might turn out to be a despotic ruler due to
the possession of absolute authority over the
State.
ARISTOTLE
▪ Aristotle criticized Plato on his understanding
of the State. Aristotle differentiates between
the authority of a father over children in a
family with authority of masters over slaves
& statesman over the citizen. He
consolidates his point by saying that the
state is not a family but a “family of families”.
Thus, the laws dictating citizens shouldn’t be
made by one.
▪ Aristotle was more pragmatic in his
perspectives than Plato.
▪ Aristotle talks about the supremacy of the
laws or rule of the law.