Plato and Locke

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how, although Plato's vision of politics was opposite to that of Locke, their ideal political systems and ideas about the nature of mankind have many similarities, as well as differences. In order to understand the ideas of both philosophers regarding man, his nature, society, the creation and purpose of government, it examines the details of both Plato's and Locke's arguments regarding these topics. In conclusion, it shows how there are too many differences between the two philosophies for them to be compatible in any society, as each reflects a different type of society. It also looks at how modern society can benefit from the ideas of both.

From the Paper:

"In the first part of his book, Locke discusses the political opinions of Sir Robert Filmer, a famous philosopher who believed that the power of a king is equivalent to a father's power over his children. Locke completely disagreed with concept, stating that a father only has power until his child reaches adulthood. "For if the right of the heir be the ordinance of God, a divine right, no man, father or not father, can alter it: if it be not a divine right, it is only human depending on the will of man: and so where human institution gives it not, the first-born has no right at all above his brethren; and men may put government into what hands, and under what form, they please (Locke, p. 95)." In addition, he believed that a king's subjects are different than children."

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