Most notable among the Greek philosophers who inspired Machiavelli was Plato. In particular, Machiavelli took interest in Plato's concept of just rulers who ruled by moral virtue. ... On the other hand, Plato argues a ruler can never be unjust. ... Virtu is characterized by its flexibility because the ruler is given the prerogative to mold it in consonance to a given situation whereas "virtue" is more rigid, as Plato would required the just ruler to behave the same all the time. ... This practice is essential in keeping the orderly nature of the republic. ...

• Word Count: 4508
• Approx Pages: 18
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

At several points, the Politics looks back to the conception of the highest human good worked out in the Nicomachean Ethics, and the concluding chapter of the Nicomachean Ethics (X.9) looks forward to the Politics, culminating in a list of questions about political systems which corresponds reasonably well to the questions he addresses in the Politics, as the following chart indicates: Outline of the Politics Questions in Nicomachean Ethics X.9.1181b17-24 Book I: types of communities: the city, the household; household management Book II: critical survey of proposed and actual constitutio...

• Word Count: 1587
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Plato believed in Classical Conservation, that justice in our society has a "natural order" of things and in his book, The Republic, he goes into detail about how just like human organs, society has a harmony where all individuals play a key role and perform to their abilities. ...

• Word Count: 821
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate