Population Thought between Plato and Aristotle: A Comparative Study
Muneer Karadsheh, Department of Sociology and Social Service, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan.
Abstract
The present study has surveyed and reviewed previous literature and studies related to population thought by the Greeks, especially the thoughts of Plato and Aristotle. As the study has concluded, it appears that this thought was mainly focused on the importance of the number of people in the State of Athens. As a result, the two philosophers proposed a number of measures and ideas to reach their goal: Plato's thought was characterized by abstractness, absolutism and idealism, while that of Aristotle was imbibed with realism and ability for implementation.
Another result of the study could be the underlining of the warning by Plato and Aristotle against unbalanced population growth and the importance of an equilibrium between population and society's goals.