User:Atcovi/AP Government/Classical Heritage


 * Athens and Rome were the two greatest European societies of the ancient world (although they both started out as a small city-state), yet both fell for slavery, social and political instability.
 * Greece
 * Task of politics is to organize the polis [Greek term for political community] and the biggest challenges were instability and injustice.
 * Athens defined the human/political values that Western societies still adhere to today.
 * Rome
 * At its prime, Rome was a representative democracy, where monarchial + aristocratic + democratic principles ruled [republic].
 * At its prime: World Empire.
 * Embedded Greek values in their politics and legality (equality, federalism, checks and balances).

Solon
"Athens, 638-558 BCE"

Political Philosophy

 * Purpose of Government: Help the poor without harming the rich
 * Preferred Government: Democracy, all citizens attended the legislature (or assembly) and voted.
 * Legacy: Lawmaker, gave Athens first code of law.

Pericles
"Athens, 495-429 BCE"

Political Philosophy

 * Purpose of Government: Was for the people and believed Athens' structure was based on the content of its inhabitants.
 * Preferred Government: Direct Democracy, people were the government and decisions were made directly from the people.
 * Legacy: Best democratic leader of Athens.

Plato
"Ancient Greece, 427-347 BCE"

Political Philosophy

 * Purpose of Government: Educate people, people are naturally selfish.
 * Preferred Government: "Philosopher king" rules, he/she would know the true nature of justice and what to do in every situation. Good government would be short because there is no king that would truly fit this description - thus the one who is well adverse in philosophy should stay away from politics.
 * Legacy: The Republic - his form of government.

Aristotle
"Ancient Greece, 384-322 BCE"

Political Philosophy

 * Purpose of Government: To help people reach their telos, purpose in life. People should live to their highest potential.
 * Preferred Government: See img
 * Legacy: Not like Plato, he had respect for the citizen. He believed all walks of education was beneficial.

Cicero
"Ancient Rome, 106-43 BCE"

Political Philosophy

 * Purpose of Government: Natural Law, helps us contribute to the natural good (civic duty).
 * Preferred Government: Roman Republic
 * Legacy: Natural law was the source of human dignity and service to the community is the highest virtue of a person. Individual citizens are the source of political legitness and soundness.

Conclusion

 * Narrow interests between poor and rich people caused political instability, which led to the downfall of the Athenian societies.
 * The Founding Fathers agreed with Plato and Aristotle that a balanced gov't is a good idea, but Greece didn't provide an example. No democracy or oligarchy.
 * The ancients did the job by figuring out what they want, but they didn't know what to do. That's where the new people came in.