Final answer:
Aristotle's ideal government was a Politeia, a state where the middle class held power and political offices reflected society's wealth differences. He also recognized monarchy and aristocracy as virtuous governments but cautioned against their degeneration into tyranny and oligarchy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aristotle's political thought was grounded in the notion of balancing the power among the citizens in order to achieve the public good. He believed that the best form of government, which he termed Politeia, would be one where political power was shared amongst a large middle class, reflecting the true wealth disparities in society. By connecting the exercise of political power with wealth, Aristotle proposed a system in which both the wealthy and the less affluent could become political leaders, fostering a deep respect for the rule of law.
Aristotle’s view on governance also included other forms of virtuous governments such as monarchy, where a single wise and virtuous ruler serves the good of the community, and aristocracy, a government by a group of virtuous leaders. However, he expressed concern that these could degrade into tyranny or oligarchy if they served the ruler's interests rather than those of the community.
According to Aristotle, for individuals to achieve full human potential, they must engage in rational debate and participate in the exercise of political power. He stressed that a well-governed state must encourage its citizens to develop virtues like wisdom and justice, which are essential for the common good of society. In this aspect, contemporary education reforms inspired by Aristotle call for a stronger emphasis on character education in schools.