About Plato:
Greek philosopher (428/427 – 348/347 BCE), student of Socrates, and teacher of Aristotle.
Founder of the Academy in Athens, one of the earliest institutions of higher learning.
Key Ethical Teachings of Plato:
As per Plato, true reality lies in unchanging, perfect "Forms", not the physical world.
Justice, Goodness, and Virtue exist as ideal forms.
Ethical living is about aligning with these perfect Forms through reason and knowledge.
Tripartite Soul
Plato believed the soul has three parts:
Reason (head): Seeks truth and governs
Spirit (heart): Seeks honor and courage
Appetite (stomach): Seeks pleasure and material things
Ethics is about the balance between these parts, with reason guiding the soul.
Justice as Harmony:
Justice is not just legal fairness, but internal harmony of the soul and society.
Moral Education:
Ethics is not innate, but must be taught.
A good society promotes education in virtue, logic, and self-control.
Conclusion:
Plato’s ethical theory is idealistic, focusing on universal moral truths and the role of reason and justice in both the individual and society.
In contrast, Aristotle is more practical, emphasizing habit, moderation, and virtue in real-world actions, making his ethics particularly relevant to public administration and civil service conduct.
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