Changes of Political Thought essays

Changes of Political Thought essays The study of western political thought has endured a drastic change throughout the centuries. This shift occurred through the queries of ancient philosophical minds such as Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics, and St. Augustine. Two examples of great importance are the inequality of gender and the role of power distributed and issued within the state. Plato believed all people, men and women alike are created equal; this notion runs parallel to our modern day Constitution. He states if we are to set women to the same tasks as men, we must teach them the same things, they must endure training for the mind and body and also be taught the art of war (149). Plato developed a role known as a guardian or a soldier to protect over the people. He relates this to the fact that if watchdogs can be both male and female why cant guardians. Aristotle is known as Platos greatest pupil. He was strongly influenced by the teachings of Plato but was also known for ridiculing some of his ways. His view of women is drastically different from those of Plato. By nature, he says, women are to be dominated by men. Aristotle refers to women as imperfect men. He acknowledges that women can possess reason, but can not obtain the same stature as men. Aristotle believes the only purpose that women serve is to provide matter for the child and the men provide the form. His ideas of form and matter are very different from that of Plato, since his beliefs are void of matter holding only form as the essence behind life. The beginning of Stoic philosophy formed a totally different view on the idea of equality. Equality was no longer devised with respects to a community in the whole, but rather as individuals. The Stoics developed a system consisting of three classes. Everyone within each particular class was considered equals. They were strong followers of the concept of natural law, which meant both men and women can...