society (Hacker 81). Aristotle tries to use real men in the real world in an experimental fashion to foresee how and in which ways they can be improved (Hacker 81). Both Plato and Aristotle agree that justice exists in an objective sense: that is, it dictates a belief that the good life should be provided for all individuals no matter how high or low their social status (Hacker 91). "In democracies, for example, justice isconsidered to mean equality, in oligarchies, again inequality in the distribution of office is considered to be just, " says Aristotle(Hacker 91). Plato sees the justice and law as what sets the guidelines for societal behavior. Aristotle puts emphasis on the institution of the polis (Hacker 77). This institution is not the state or society merely the larger unit of the two (hacker 77). Neither Plato nor Aristotle found it to be necessary to distinguish between the state nor society andtherefore it is difficult to define polis (Hacker 77). The polis was set up to allow political participation on the part of the averagecitizen (Hacker 80). This contradicts Plato's theory of one ruling class controlling the political power and all decisions that effectthe entire society. The theory of Democracy that Aristotle derived states that democracy is a "perversion" form of government of "polity" (Hacker 92). Aristotle said, "The people at large should be sovereign rather than the few best" (Hacker 92). Plato would never allow the full public participation in government as Aristotle would like. According to Plato public judgments of approval and disapproval are based on belief and not on knowledge (Hacker 59). Plato thinks that is a revolution were to take place it would be a palace revolution (Hacker 64). A palace revolution occurs when there is a power transfer from one power holder to someone else. Aristotle sees the cause of revolutions originating with either the rich or the poor (Hacker 102). He feels ...
