Utopian Ideas

Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:

• Textbook: Chapter 3, 4; review Chapter 2 (Section: Ideologies and Politics in the United States)
• Additional scholarly sources you identify through your own research

Initial Post Instructions
Explain one of the perfect political systems of Plato,  Bacon, Marx, or Skinner. Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.

Writing Requirements

• APA format for in-text citations and list of references

Professor’s note:

Class,

In my first post I won’t be defining one of the ‘perfect’ political systems.  I am going to leave that to you.  I am, however, going to share a few thoughts on Aristotle and polity (for more on Plato and polity see Magstadt, page 51-56). 

One way in which Aristotle used polity was to designate one of six types of government.  Polity was rule by many in the interests of all.  The flip side of polity was what Aristotle called “democracy,” rule by many in their own interest.  (See this (Links to an external site.) for a quick and dirty summary of the six forms of government.)  

I think it is fascinating, and worthwhile, to think about: what Aristotle meant by polity, what it means for there to be rule by many in the interest of all, whether Aristotle’s six forms are really obsolete, and whether America qualifies as a polity or something else.  What do you think?

Sam

Remember, you need to explain one of these perfect systems in your initial post (feel free to respond to my post if you choose Aristotle) and then follow up on others’ explanations in your subsequent posts.

reference; Magstadt, T. M. (2017). Understanding politics: Ideas, institutions, and issues. Australia: Cengage Learning.