Like his mentor, Aristotle also expanded his theories into the domain of political philosophy. However, like his other approaches, he yet again took a different point of view in ascertaining how society can be best organized. Plato’s Republic symbolized an authoritarian polis governed by philosophical kings whose knowledge of the Forms of virtue made them qualified to do so.
Aristotle, on the other hand, utilized a more systematic approach: like most of his other works. He analyzed the types of governments that could be constructed – an individual or a group – and for whom – themselves of the state. With this, he identified three forms of true political constitutions: monarchy, aristocracy, and polity. In essence, all of them are supposed to rule for the greater good. However, Aristotle suggested, that they could be perverted and corrupted leading to tyranny, oligarchy, and democracy. He then proceeded to conclude that polity was the ideal form of government, and democracy was the least harmful form of corrupted constitution.
