natural law discussion replies one final
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Apr 3, 2024
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Your well-thought-out discussion post helped me better understand the ideologies of these classical readings. I really like how you approach the comparative analysis between Plato and Aristotle.
Although Plato and Aristotle explicitly do not mention Natural Law, I agree that Plato and Aristotle's political ideas embody the sentiments of natural law. It is very aligning that you use the scripture Psalms 37:27-29 – "Depart from evil, and do good, and dwell for evermore."
I believe Plato’s philosophical work has more paradoxes than Aristotle’s more research-based writing. In his book, Republic, Plato elaborates on an ideal just city-state governed by a Philosopher king. Plato believes that a statesman, a class of Philosopher King, should have exceptional knowledge of how to rule the city-state justly for the best interest of its citizens. He also acknowledges the complexity of human nature, and the laws should align with human nature
and reasoning. (Plato, 1892b, p.567). Plato tries to display that only a god with the divine could have absolute power, but the philosopher Kings, the ruler of the Republic, should rule with orderly laws. Plato (1892c) believes that Law is of divine origin. (Plato, 1892c, p.48) Therefore, Plato (1892c) states in his book "Laws" that " the human going back to the divine and the divine to their leader's mind" (Plato, 1892c, p.26).
As Ballingall (2022) argues, "The rule of Law for Plato is implicated in a particular paradox: it both prohibits and requires the imitation of god. The law cannot safely originate with human beings, yet humans must be involved in laying the law down. Trustworthy lawgivers must revere
the gods while at the same time emulating them and must somehow make Law themselves while regarding that very task as beyond their ken (Ballingall, 2022, p.190). Deuteronomy 6:4 (King James Version) affirms that only the Lord exists, and our God is one God. Plato was self-
contradicting in saying man-made laws need divine wisdom from man-made gods.
Aristotle, A. (-320). The Politics vol. 1. Clarendon Press. https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/jowett-
the-politics-vol-1.
Aristotle, A. (1885). The Politics vol. 2. Clarendon Press. https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/jowett-
the-politics-vol-2
Ballingall, R. A. (2022). The Rule of Law and the Imitation of God in Plato's
Laws
.
Perspectives
on Political Science
, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/10457097.2022.2105586
James, K. (1994).
The Holy Bible : the 21st Century King James Version:
21St Century King James Bible Publishers.
Plato, P. (1892a). Dialogues, vol. 3 - Republic, Timaeus, Critias. Oxford University Press. https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/plato-dialogues-vol-3-republic-timaeus-critias
Links to an external site.
.
Plato, P. (1892b). Dialogues, vol. 5 - Laws, Index to the Writings of Plato. Oxford University Press.
https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/plato-dialogues-vol-5-laws-index-to-the-writings-of-plato Plato, P. (1892c). Dialogues, vol. 5 - Laws, Index to the Writings of Plato. Oxford University Press.
https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/plato-dialogues-vol-5-laws-index-to-the-writings-of-plato
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