Date Approved

2026

Degree Type

Open Access Senior Honors Thesis

Department or School

History and Philosophy

First Advisor

Kristopher Phillips, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Jill Dieterle, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

John Koolage, Ph.D.

Abstract

This paper explores the idea that there is a meaningful philosophical connection between Plato’s account of oligarchy and the development of the modern American political order. Rather than approaching American politics only through constitutional design, electoral procedures, or institutional mechanics, the paper argues that political systems must also be understood as reflections of the values and motivations of the people who inhabit them. Drawing on Plato’s framework that links the ordering of the human soul to the ordering of political regimes, the project examines how the priorities a society places on certain goods—particularly wealth, economic achievement, and material success—can shape both political expectations and institutional behavior. By looking at contemporary concerns about American democracy within the broader tradition of classical political philosophy, this paper seeks to show that understanding political institutions requires attention not only to their formal structures but also to the moral priorities and psychological motivations that guide the citizens who sustain them. Through this lens, the project offers a philosophical framework for thinking about how societal values influence political authority and the development of democratic institutions.

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