The Classical Sense of Good Government Politics plays an extremely important role in human society. Political philosophers started to discuss the quality of good government thousands of years ago Among the forerunners are Plato, Aristotle, and Machiavelli. Ⅰ. Plato’s Political Proposal A. It is an irony for Plato to discuss good government because he 1 politics. 1. ______. B. Plato believed that political freedom could not be helpful. In fact, they usually led to uncertainty and dangerous changes. C. Plato feared 2 because other disciplines are very orderly and predictable. 2. ______. D. In Plato’s opinion, justice consisted of everybody doing what he or she 3 by natural talent. 3. ______. Ⅱ. Aristotle’s Political Proposal A. Aristotle believed that every state is a kind of 4 . 4. ______. B. Aristotle believed that people in a state would be rather similar, and did not foresee the ethnic and cultural diversity of modern states. C. Aristotle believed that polls, or 5 , is the highest state of 5. ______. human social and political development; and can ensure good life for everybody. D. According to Aristotle, in order to achieve the best quality of life, people must try to 6 6. ______. Ⅲ. Stoicism and Machiavelli A. Stoicism means 7 one lives in. 7. ______. B. Stoicism believes that the world is made up of virtue and vice, and the world is a difficult and disorderly place where happiness is unusual C. Plato and Aristotle presented what politics 8 , but Machiavelli discussed 8. ______. what politics 9 and how it actually functions. 9. ______. D. Machiavelli believed that just being 10 does not promise 10. ______. good leadership.