Final answer:
Plato and Aristotle placed greater value on all-round development, focusing on intellectual and virtuous growth over winning in athletics, though they differed in their approaches to education and virtue.
Step-by-step explanation:
Plato and Aristotle, two foundational figures in Western philosophy, both emphasized the importance of all-round development for individuals, particularly in the realm of education and personal growth.
Plato's philosophy, with its concern for the world of forms, stressed the significance of intellectual pursuits and the idea of philosopher-kings as ideal rulers.
In contrast to the physical athleticism lauded in competitions, Plato valued the cultivation of virtue and understanding of ideal forms above bodily excellence.
Aristotle, while taking a more empirical approach to understanding the world, also believed in the development of virtue and reason within individuals.
To Aristotle, a flourishing life, or eudaimonia, involved not only virtuous development but also success, friendships, and the accumulation of external goods.
This differed from the societal emphasis on public performance of excellence and the shame associated with failure in Greek culture, where winning in arenas such as athletics or public debate was paramount.
The philosophies of Plato and Aristotle collectively suggest that they would view the pursuit of athletic victory as less important than the broader development of a person's character, wisdom, and understanding of the world.
Developing these qualities would contribute to an individual's ability to lead, contribute to the polis, and achieve a well-balanced and fulfilling eudaimonia.