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Plato believed that the just state is one that is ruled by a philosopher-king. He argued that only philosophers have the knowledge and wisdom to rule justly. He also believed that the state should be divided into three classes: the rulers, the auxiliaries, and the producers. The rulers should be the wisest and most virtuous members of society, the auxiliaries should be the warriors who protect the state, and the producers should be the farmers, merchants, and craftsmen who provide for the material needs of the state.

Aristotle believed that the just state is one that is ruled by the middle class. He argued that the middle class is the most virtuous class, because it is not motivated by greed or ambition. He also believed that the state should be divided into three parts: the deliberative part, the executive part, and the judicial part. The deliberative part should be responsible for making laws, the executive part should be responsible for carrying out the laws, and the judicial part should be responsible for interpreting the laws.

Social contract theory is a theory of political philosophy that argues that the state is based on an agreement between the people and the government. This agreement, known as the social contract, gives the government the authority to rule, but it also limits the government’s power.

One version of social contract theory is the theory of John Locke. Locke argued that the social contract is based on the idea of natural rights. He argued that people have certain natural rights, such as the right to life, liberty, and property. These rights cannot be taken away by the government. Locke also argued that the government’s power is limited by the social contract. The government can only do things that are agreed upon by the people.

The classical and social contract approaches to justice can be illustrated by contemporary political life in a number of ways. For example, the idea of a just state based on virtue is reflected in the idea of a “virtuous republic.” A virtuous republic is a state that is governed by people who are committed to the common good and who are willing to put the needs of the state ahead of their own personal interests.

The idea of social contract theory is reflected in the idea of a “limited government.” A limited government is a government that is not all-powerful. It is a government that is limited by the constitution and by the rights of the people.

The classical and social contract approaches to justice are both important contributions to political philosophy. They offer different perspectives on what makes a just state, and they both have implications for contemporary political life.