Plato and Aristotle were two very important thinkers in the world of politics a long time ago. They came up with their ideas while looking at the society in ancient Athens.

Plato's Ideas:

• Idealism: Plato saw the problems in Athenian democracy, especially after a big war called the Peloponnesian War. He believed that the best way to run a society was to have wise leaders, known as philosopher-kings. These leaders would focus on what was right and fair instead of their own desires.
• Example: In his book, "The Republic," Plato shares a story called the Allegory of the Cave. This story shows how many people only see shadows of what is real and need someone to help them understand the truth.

Aristotle's Ideas:

• Pragmatism: Aristotle, who was a student of Plato, looked at things differently. He wanted to study what was happening around him and looked at different types of government, like kingship, the rule of the best people (aristocracy), and democracy. He believed having a strong middle class was important for keeping society stable.
• Example: In his book, "Politics," Aristotle argued that a good government should balance the needs of rich and poor people to avoid problems like tyranny and chaos.

In summary, both Plato and Aristotle shaped important ideas in political science based on what they saw happening in their world. Their thoughts are still important today.