Socrates, the main character of Plato’s dialogues and Plato’s teacher, is an idealist. He holds ideals above money, rejecting the Sophist idea of being a paid tutor, and even favoring his ideals over his life. Plato’s student Aristotle, who didn’t use his teacher as a literary tool, is a realist. He explains how moral virtue can be applied in real life situations, and how maintaining a “balance” of vice and virtue can be a useful tool of political influence.

The fourth democracy laid out by Aristotle is where all are included in citizenship. Citizenship for Aristotle means those who are able to participate in the ruling of the polis. Therefore, this last sort admits people into the rank of citizenship who are unsuited for ruling the polis, including slaves. In this instance, slaves would apply to anyone who is unable to rule themselves and not the slaves who have been conquered in war.