Principles of Good Governance Advocated by Ancient Greek Thinkers

Principles of Good Governance Advocated by Ancient Greek Thinkers

Dr. Desh Raj Sirswal

ABSTRACT

Good governance, first appeared in the nineties within the United Nations, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund refers to describe how public organizations best conduct public affairs and deliver public goods and services. Today, about three decades later good governance seems to be still popular since there are still many challenges ahead for many governments especially in less-developed and developing countries.  Hence the notion of good governance was emerged as a normative commencement of the principles, values and ethics to realise the acts of governance. Some thoughts on good governance and related topics advocated by three great ancient philosophers, who appear to be relevant at the present time are considered herein. One of the said philosophers is Kautilya (also known as Chanakya and Vishnugupta), who lived in India around 150AD. The others are the two great Greek philosophers Plato (427- 347BC) and Aristotle (384-322 BC), who stand with Socrates as the shapers of the whole intellectual tradition of the West. The thoughts are extracted from that detailed manual of state-craft and the science of living known as the Arthashastra written by one of classical India’s greatest minds Kautilya, Plato’s great work known as ‘The Republic’ and Aristotle’s treatise titled ‘The Politics”.  The objective of this paper is to study the thoughts of ancient Greek philosophers who lived many centuries ago and their ideas are still relevant today. 

Key-Words: Good Governance, Democracy, Greek Philosophers, State.

Presented at:

92^nd SESSION OF THE INDIAN PHILOSOPHICAL CONGRESS 5^th to 7^th January, 2018  Venue: Holistic Science Research Center,Vitrag Vignan Charitable Research Foundation, Near Dada Bhagawan Mahavideh Teerth Dham, Kamrej Xing, Dist. Surat, Gujarat (India) PIN-394185

Aristotle on Happiness and the Good Life

Abstract

Aristotle was the last, and the most influential of the Greek philosophers. Aristotle studied philosophy as well as different branches of natural sciences. In fact, he had a keen interest in the world of experience and is the founder of at least two sciences: (1) Logic and (2) Biology. Aristotle’s system of philosophy falls into the fivefold division of Logic, metaphysics, physics, ethics and aesthetics. Aristotle talks about the ultimate good being eudaimonia  – a good life, a flourishing life, a fulfilled and worthwhile life. Reflecting on ideals and connecting them to reality is only the first step in the search for the good life. A For Aristotle the final end of human life is to flourish, to live well, to have a good life. All acts should aim at this end. According to Aristotle, the good life consists in the possession, over the course of a lifetime, of all those things that are really good for us.  Aristotle’s purpose in the Nicomachean Ethics is not just to explain the philosophy of the excellence for human beings but also to demonstrate specifically how human beings can lead lives of excellence as activity in accordance with practical and theoretical reason. The objective of this paper is to study the concept of happiness and the good life according to Aristotle.

Key-Words: Ethics, Aristotle, Happiness, Virtue, Good Life.