Main Points Of Plato’s Republic:

• centers on a simple question: is it always better to be just than

unjust?

• provides an imaginary account (made-up dialogue?) of a “good”

city on the grounds that a good city would be just

• defines justice as a virtue of a city; defines justice as a virtue of a

human being

• argues that the just city and the just human being as he has
sketched them are in fact good and are in principle “possible”

• demonstrates that it is always better to be just than unjust

• concludes that justice is both necessary and sufficient for

happiness

• concludes that the just person is always happier than the unjust

• claims that the just city should be ruled by a just individual: the
philosopher-king

• claims that the best human life is ruled by knowledge and

especially knowledge of what goodness is and of what is good for
human beings. So, too, is the best city

• argues that philosophers make the ideal rulers for two main
reasons. First, they know what is good. Second, they do not want
to rule

• suggests that the problem with existing cities is: they are ruled
by people who are ignorant of what is good and just

• argues that cities suffer from strife among citizens all of whom
want to rule (These flaws are connected: the ignorant are
marked by their desire for the wrong objects, such as honor and
money, and this desire is what leads them to seek political
power.)

• claims that All existing regimes, whether ruled by one, a few, or

many, show these defects (problems)

Summary: First, the best rulers are wise. Second, the best rulers rule
for the benefit of the ruled, and not for their own sake. Third, a city is
highly unlikely to have the best rulers, in part because there is a gap
between the values of most people and the values of the wise. Fourth,
the greatest harm to a city is disagreement about who should rule,
since competing groups create civil strife. So, fifth, the goal of politics
is harmony or agreement among the citizens about who should rule.
Last, harmony requires that the city cultivate virtue and the rule of
law.

Main Points Of Aristotle’s Politics:

• centers on a central argument: that human beings are by nature

political animals, who naturally want to live together

• raises several issues: the role of human nature in politics, the

relation of the individual to the state, the place of morality in
politics, the theory of political justice, the rule of law, the analysis
and evaluation of constitutions, the relevance of ideals to
practical politics, the causes and cures of political change and
revolution, and the importance of a morally educated citizenry.

• asks which constitutional form should the lawgiver and politician

establish and preserve

• suggests that the most important task for the politician is, in the
role of lawgiver—to frame the appropriate constitution for the
city-state

• believes the ideal city-state should have enduring laws, customs,

and institutions (including a system of moral education) for the
citizens

• claims that once the constitution is in place, the politician needs

to take the appropriate measures to maintain it, to introduce
reforms when he finds them necessary, and to prevent
developments which might subvert the political system

• defines the constitution as "a certain ordering of the inhabitants

of the city-state"

• suggests the constitution is also "the way of life" of the citizens

 • argues that a community of any sort can possess order only if it
has a ruling element or authority (rulers are defined by the
constitution, which sets criteria for political offices)

• suggests that the city-state comes into being for the sake of life
but exists for the sake of the good life—and life or happiness is
the proper end [product] of the city-state

Summary: Aristotle claims that the city-state is neither a business

association to maximize wealth (as the oligarchs suppose) nor an
agency to promote liberty and equality (as the democrats maintain).
Instead, Aristotle argues, "the good life is the end [product] of the city-
state," that is, a life consisting of noble actions. Hence, the correct idea
of justice is aristocratic, assigning political rights to those who make
full contribution to the political community, that is, to those with virtue
as well as property and freedom.