Plato, Aristotle and the IVth Century

Abstract

In this article two figures, the most representative of the fourth century b.C. are seen in their context, through their drive to institute a new form of politeía within the boundaries of the events taking place right after the Peloponessian war. The article contains three parts: an introduction which attempts to sound the ruling ideas once the war has ended; a second part deals with pólemos and stásis in the thought of Plato, who starts from a definite conception of war and determines his model, basing himself on the ability of the legislator to produce reconciliation so as to reach a harmonious organization centered on the communitarian and justice. The third part takes some points from Aristotle which are intended to insinuate a direction through which he will see as his main problem, in the case of civil wars, the distribution of property, foreseeing that although it is true that education can contribute to improve the distribution of oysía, it is more important to educate in epithymía, that is to say ambition.