Plato and American Democracy

Term Paper # 100920

Philosophy > Ancient Greek
Political Science > U.S.

An application of Plato's "Republic" to the failure of American democracy.

804 words () | 3 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes Plato's "well ordered soul" in relation to the corruption that resides within failed American democratic institutions. It discusses how Plato's "Republic" defines the notion of the greater good in society and how the practical applications of these ideas are prone to corruption and the dissolution of justice within the United States.

From the Paper:

"Socrates also realizes that governmental 'order' in reality is only as stable as time. Therefore, since time is always moving and changing, there are no reasonable ways to create a government that can mimic the greater good of the soul. In this manner, the term democracy is a transient form of government that can never be realized, since power is often consolidated and fluctuates between the three branches. However, Plato reinforces the construct and need for the well-ordered soul, since chaos would surely ensue without the doctrine of the greater good to be imposed throughout the various sections of the Republic. "

Sample of Sources Used:

Christiano, Thomas. Philosophy and Democracy. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.
O'Connor, Karen. American Government; Continuity and Change. New York: Longman, 2005
Plato. Trans. C.D.C. Reeve. The Republic. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2004.

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APA Citation:

Plato and American Democracy (2012, January 15). Retrieved February 13, 2012, from http://www.academon.com/Term-Paper-Plato-and-American-Democracy/100920