The Principles of Plato and Aristotle and their Relationship to Today's Democracy

Author(s)	Dr. Clayton H Hawkins
Country	United States
Abstract	Plato and Aristotle were two of the most famous philosophers of Western political thought. While they shared many common beliefs, their views on democracy and governing differed. For example, Plato believed that philosopher-kings should rule the state, whereas Aristotle argued that polity—a combination of democracy and oligarchy with a strong middle class—is the most effective form of governance. Despite their differences, Plato and Aristotle shared a common commitment to a just and virtuous political system. While Plato emphasised the importance of virtue, Aristotle argued for a system promoting fairness. However, both stressed the need for justice, equality, and civic participation to improve democracy. Through the intellectual rigour of Plato's philosopher-kings and the practical wisdom of Aristotle's mixed constitution, today’s democracies can address the growing challenges of inequality, political disengagement, and corruption.
Keywords	Philosophy, Morality, Ethics, Virtue
Field	Sociology > Politics
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 6, November-December 2025
Published On	2025-12-23
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i06.63410

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