Abstract
The paper looks at the views of Plato, Aristotle, Elisabeth Anscombe and Alasdair MacIntyre on virtues and defines the strengths and weaknesses of virtue ethics when applying the virtues to real life. The paper shows how there are no concrete rules for people to follow, yet the theory is more practical than other normative theories because it is agent-centered and based around the type of person one is.

From the Paper
"Virtue ethics originated from the well known philosophers Aristotle and Plato and is based on the concept of being virtuous and achieving virtues. A virtue is a character trait of excellence that leads people to making the right choices and to happiness, to be a virtue it must have a good end. For example, a terrorist may have the virtue of courage but their actions lead to death and this is not considered a good end, the terrorist would therefore not be considered virtuous."

Tags:Plato, Aristotle, golden, mean, eudaimonia, pronesis

Abstract
This paper examines how in his text, "The Republic", Plato takes on the monumental task of elucidating the topic of justice through the discourse of Socrates with his auditors. It looks at how adding to the challenge of this task is Socrates' faithfulness to arguments made with reason and not rhetoric and how Plato endeavors to answer complex questions about justice by introducing a unique account of what justice actually is and how morally sensitive people are educated and informed about the real nature of justice and morality.

From the Paper
"In The Republic, Plato shows a theoretical perspective in terms of what preoccupies him in his analysis. His major concerns are stability, justice, divine right, and the caste system. The Republic is itself a theoretical perspective on the proper structure and operation of a city-state. In the very creation of the ideal city-state, Plato is referring to his theory of ideal forms, of which the construct in The Republic would be one. This idea holds that there are ideal forms in the abstract that are perfect, while what we see in this world are but imperfect shadows of the original. For Plato, the act of examination itself is a necessary condition for knowledge, and no authority is possible without an enquiry into values and reason."

Tags:socrates, morality, ideal, state

Abstract
This paper examines how Plato's "Theory of Forms" and the "Allegory of the Cave" describe how abstract knowledge is achieved and to some extent clarify its nature. It also looks at how the Philosopher King or Guardian as the ruler of the state is considered to be able to act justly in possessing this knowledge. The limitations of both the concept of the philosopher king and the broader idea of abstract knowledge as a mechanism for justice are evaluated and conclusions are drawn.

From the Paper
"In the republic, the divided line shows the relation between opinion and knowledge. Knowledge and opinion are the difference between the two forms of reality that Plato asserts exist. Opinion will be either perception/belief or conjecture/imagining and knowledge will be reason or understanding . Plato asserts that the two 'higher' forms of reason and understanding are supreme over everything in the intelligible world and the visible world. What humans see (in the intelligible and visible world) is their interpretation of a 'higher' form which is the essence of the object or concept under consideration. So what humans see are therefore merely shadows, images and reflections of this."

Tags:allegory, cave, guardian, theory, forms

Abstract
This paper describes Plato's criticisms of democracy, from the role of the forms in his metaphysical reasons for his dislike of Athenian democracy, to the concept of role allocation, which stemmed from this and the division of society into 3 classes of peoples - artisans, auxiliaries and philosopher kings. Plato's understanding of what democracy meant to him is examined in order to establish the parameters for the paper. Many examples and quotes are used throughout, which come from such sources as the Declaration of Independence. Representative democracy is also discussed as well as an alternative to Athenian democracy. Oligarchy, timocracy and aristocracy are also touched upon.

From the Paper
"The first of Plato's criticisms of democracy concerns itself with what is commonly referred to as the concept of role allocation. Plato advanced the idea that the best society would be one where the society was divided into three classes; workers (Artisans), soldiers (Auxiliaries) and rulers (Guardians). He based this argument upon his notion of human nature that stated that "no two of us are born exactly alike and that we have different natural aptitudes that fit us for different jobs" . He advocated that the guardians were the wisest and most logical individuals in society and so were able to make informed, objective decisions (based on the theory of the forms)."

Tags:Elitism, Forms, Metaphysics

Abstract
This paper explains and evaluates all of Aristotle's arguments for why he believes that man can only achieve a life of virtue and happiness through participation in politics and through being a citizen of a well-run state. It also explores his notion of man as being a political animal and how man is best suited to life in the polis. The paper looks at what Aristotle believes to be a well-run state and what he deems to be a just constitution. It also explores the criticisms of Aristotle's philosophy and evaluates the validity of his arguments.

From the Paper
"Aristotle is considered by many to be the father of modern political theory and indeed Aristotle's theories up until the late eighteenth century were the standard texts for many leading educational institutions and noble courts alike. Aristotle was Plato's pupil, but instead of following on from his theories, much like Plato did concerning his mentor Socrates, Aristotle became one of Plato's most vociferous critics and he developed his own separate understanding of politics."

Tags:eudaimonia, telos, polis, Plato

Abstract
This paper examines Plato's theory of the forms and the reasons why Plato uses this metaphysical argument to justify how a state should be ruled and by whom. The theory is taken to its most logical endpoint a number of times to test its strength. Plato's technocratic viewpoint is mentioned along with the reasons why he held such views. Numerous criticisms are used and examined, which originate from Aristotle, Plato's pupil, and from Plato himself, with his later works also being touched upon.

From the Paper
"The basis of Plato's theory of the forms is that he "distiguishes between the experienced world that most of us think of as reality" and the "real world of the forms accesible only to philosophers" . The world that we ordinarily experience with our sences is just a "superficial reflection", or shadow of the real world of the forms, that remain invisible to all but the greatest philosophers. Plato explores not only objects such as a chair or a triangle, but also looks at such things as goodness and beauty. For example, Plato argues that beauty must be something quite different from the image of beautiful things."

Tags:Aristotle, Metanarrative

Abstract
This paper examines the conflicts between the dialogues of "Allegory of the Cave" and "Divided Line" from Socrates' works "Apology" and "Crito". It looks at how in "Apology", Socrates stipulates that if the court would discharge him on the condition that he no longer practice philosophy, he would not obey the law and how in the "Crito" he argues that the laws must be obeyed, firstly because if they are not then a city cannot function and secondly because escaping would constitute and unjust act. It analyzes whether it is possible for Socrates to disobey the court's ruling in the "Apology" and argue that one must never disobey a law in the "Crito" .

From the Paper
"Socrates also likens the relationship between citizen and state to that of child and parent (Crito, 50d). To avoid punishment would be akin to that of not abiding by the decision one's parents made, effectively claiming that the state had no right to judge one in the first place. Socrates points out that if one thought this then one is free to leave the state, but by remaining there they effectively sign a contract to abide by the state's rulings (Crito, 52e). Socrates points out that he is not an equal to the state's laws, but an inferior and must abide by their decisions."

Tags:citizen, state, justice, city

Abstract
This paper examines how in "The Republic", Plato introduces both the allegories of the "Cave" and the "Divided Line" in order to further his explanation of the perfect government. It looks at how he believes that the state will be perfectly ordered if a guardian who knows the "Good" is in charge of it and how he uses the allegories to enable his readers to understand the intellectual transition that the guardians must go through to understand what is "Good".

From the Paper
"There are six stages to the allegory of the Cave. (a) In an underground cave, a group of prisoners are held captive in such a way that they can only see the back wall of the cave. Behind them is a large fire and in between them and the fire people are walking with artifacts so that shadows are projected onto the back wall of the cave (514a-515c). (b) They are set free and turn to look at the fire, but can see neither it nor the artifacts as they are dazzled by the bright light (515c-e). (c) They are forced out of the cave and into the world above and can see nothing clearly owing to dazzling so they look at the shadows that the sun projects (515e-516a). (d) Eventually they come to look at actual objects (516a)."

Tags:aristotle, sun, government

Abstract
This paper examines Aristotle's claim that politics makes us truly happy, and that the natural endpoint or telos of man is found in politics. It discusses the 'natural' phenomenon of politics and how happiness can be achieved through practicing the doctrine of the mean. It looks at the Sophist contradictions and the evolutionary nature of politics due to the teleological reasoning of Aristotle. It also discusses the criticisms of Aristotle through prejudices he had and in terms of the vagueness of the term fulfillment.

From the Paper
"Aristotle's claim that politics fosters mans happiness centres around his view that politics is the natural endpoint (telos) for man and that it is a practical tool which should provide the natural and moral conditions suitable for human happiness and fulfilment (eudamonia). Aristotle bolsters his argument with metaphysical claims concerning the teleological nature of man. His view contradicted with the Sophist position of the time, which stated that politics was created to restrain the natural desires of man. Instead Aristotle believed that the happiness and virtue of all citizens was entwined with politics and that politics was natural, and not a socially constructed phenomenon, but was a natural evolution from basic, small familial structures, that characterised the governance of early mankind."

Tags:Telos, Teleology, Eudamonia, Arete, Sophist

Abstract
This essay focuses on Plato's clever use of metaphors in the "Allegory of the Cave". This essay discusses Plato, his philosophy, his teaching and why the "Allegory of the Cave" was so good at explaining his ideas. The author explains the Platonic theory of the Forms. Also examined are possible critiques and strengths in terms of criticism to human understanding.

From the Paper
"Plato believed in the Platonic theory of the Forms. The world in which we ourselves live in, which we would class is real, is in fact not real at all. It is merely a shadow of the real world, the world of the Perfect Forms. He believed that the world is constantly changing, but the reality, the forms behind are constant. He taught that the world we live in and believe is real is nothing more than a materialistic world and everything in it is an imperfect copy of the perfect forms. "The world that we see is not the real world, the true world is beyond our physical senses.""

Tags:dualism, forms, philosophy, shadows, world