Abstract

In this paper I analyze the issue of how ancient Greek political theory conceived of the realization of the normative ideal. I define what I mean by realizability through three main dimensions: realization of what, by whom, and how. First, I deal with the problem of realization in Plato's "Republic" where the problem of implementing a model was for the first time accounted for and the first dimension of realization is fully sketched. Next, I deal with the "Statesman" where Plato faces the problem of providing a theoretical picture of the agent supposed to implement the ideal (second dimension). In the "Laws", besides introducing a number of normative revisions, Plato fully addresses the issue of how (third dimension) the ideal can be put in practice. I conclude the paper by providing some considerations regarding why Aristotle did not properly outlined a theory of realizability as I understand it here.