Socrates is considered by many to be the father of classical political thought. His teachings and philosophies, however, continue to resonate in the modern era.
Plato, Socrates’ pupil, opened his own school, The Academy, in 385 where he continued many of the teachings of Socrates and began to further develop his own. His most famous writing, The Republic, explains his ideas on the role of the state and the nature of justice. One of his students was Aristotle.
Aristotle was Plato’s most famous pupil, even though he frequently disagreed with his teacher. Through his life he tutored Alexander the Great and founded his own school, The Lyceum.
Discuss their views on the proper roles of the state and how they might compare to the US state (government) today. Do you think the philosophers would agree with the current structure of the American government? Why or why not?
