Property: Past and Present

Plato's Republic and Aristotle's The Politics boast certain similarities, including the description of property in terms of our everyday relationships; however, they differ in their analysis of these relationships. Plato is an ideological advocate for absolute parity within the guardian class. Each guardian holds their property in common, including wives, children and land (Plato, 155). Aristotle criticizes Plato's communist ideal with a more realistic view of property. He reasons that it is irrational to presume that equality for all people and property is achievable (Aristotle, 57). In this respect, Aristotle's realistic description of property is a more plausible explanation; however, Plato's depiction of communal property appears to be the more desirable form. Broadening these classical ideas to include our current reality direct us to a discussion of how the international community accepts and/or changes the Platonic and Aristotelian conceptions of property. Each individual is entitled to their share of private property; nevertheless, our international responsibilities are mounting and we can no longer think of communal property solely in terms of the family or the political community. I will argue that while Aristotle's description of our more personal relationships between man and woman, the household, the village and the political community are still somewhat relevant today, we have a growing obligation to the international community which necessitates a combination of private and communal property. I will address three central questions in this analysis: first, what is property and how is it approached in the classical literature of Plato and Aristotle? Second, how does the classical literature relate to the international system today? Finally, how do classical and current authors address the issue of moderating property legislation through education?