Plato and Aristotle on the Individuals Relationship to Society - Assignment Example

The guardians, who are either soldiers or rulers, should be trained in a rigorous way even as children in order that they grow up to serve the state in honor (Plato, Republic 395c). Therefore, although both philosophers believe in the idea of cooperation among individuals in a society in order to create harmony, Plato’s idea of cooperation remains tougher and stricter compared to Aristotle’s.

Both philosophers also believe in the idea of justice, which is a virtue that they believe would foster cooperation among the members of society. For Aristotle, justice is “the exercise of virtue as a whole” (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics V.2). He then adds that the unjust is divided into two: the unlawful and the unfair (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics V.2). This means that, for Aristotle, every virtuous citizen of the society must seek to promote justice by being a just man himself. Plato agrees with Aristotle on this as the former states that “the origin of a state [is] also the origin of justice…in it” (Plato, Republic 369a). Both philosophers actually have the same reasons for advocating justice as a responsibility of every citizen towards society. For Aristotle it is good and for Plato, “the evilest and the most unjust is the most unhappy” (Plato, Republic 580c).

Despite the similarities, perhaps one big difference between Aristotle and Plato on the individual’s relationship to society is in the form of government that each of them has proposed. Plato theorizes that the perfect society is one controlled by the guardians and governed by a philosopher-king, who possesses both “political power and philosophic intelligence” (Plato, Republic 473d). Aristotle, on the other hand, proposes a polity or a form of constitutional government since it is considered to be the least harmful among the other forms of government (Aristotle, Politics III.7). Plato, therefore, promotes the aristocracy while Aristotle pushes for a form of democracy.

Cicero on Power and Ethics
According to the Roman philosopher and statesman Cicero:
“We shall find a certain conscience in the mind of man, which…in truth, is the noblest portion of our nature; for when conscience reigns, it allows no resting place to lust, violence, or temerity” (Halsall, On the Republic, Book I).
Based on the aforementioned words of Cicero, man possesses in his nature a conscience that is supposed to make him put the true and the noblest above other things. In present-day society, however, where heads of corporations are corrupt, Cicero would most likely condemn their ruthless dealings with individuals in society. Nowadays, some corporations make the most of their profit by exploiting natural resources and mismanaging factory wastes in the process, without thinking about how it would affect the individuals concerned.

Moreover, Cicero said:
“Men are likewise endowed with a soul, which is a portion of the eternal fires, which you call stars and constellations; and which, being round, spherical bodies, animated by divine intelligence, perform their cycles and revolutions with amazing rapidity” (Halsall, On the Republic, Book VI).
The basis of conscience, according to Cicero, is the fact that man has in him a spark of divinity or that man is practically a creature who is partly God. Nevertheless, with the conscienceless activities of today’s corporations such as human rights abuses and the promotion of child pornography, Cicero would most likely lead demonstrations against these evil business giants. Among the other evils of these corporations include forced child labor, environmental damage, and the financing of nuclear weapons.

Lastly, Cicero pointed out:
“If then, you wish to elevate your views to the contemplation of this eternal seat of splendor, you will not be satisfied with the praises of your fellow-mortals, nor with any human rewards that your exploits can obtain; but Virtue herself must point out to you the true and only object worthy of your pursuit” (Halsall, On the Republic, Book VI).
These last words from the Roman philosopher serve as advice that is intended mostly for the leaders of corporate giants. The message is clear and self-explanatory: In order to truly succeed as a company, the leader should not go for the human material rewards nor the fame or popularity. Virtue or total goodness must be the goal of every corporation, for, as Cicero believed, by the following virtue, one can achieve what one truly wants.