亞里斯多德的《政治學》在好幾個議題上，和柏拉圖的《政治學》有所爭論：第一，柏拉圖：世上只有一種統治的知識或專業技術；亞里斯多德：按照不同的結合形式，有不同的統治形式。第二，柏拉圖：正確的政體只有一種標準，就是統治者擁有專業知識；其他的政體都只是模仿而已。亞里斯多德：一共有三種正確的政體；標準在於政體是否以共同善為目標。第三，柏拉圖：法律是不完美的，因為無法為所有的情況伸張正義；理想的統治者比法律更優先。亞里斯多德：法律的權威是基於法律是獨立於主觀利益之外。第四，柏拉圖：統治人類的專家知識只有極少數的人才擁有；亞里斯多德強調眾人的常識。柏拉圖：國家是策術和目的的階級體系；亞里斯多德：所有公民都參與了國家的最終目的。第六，理想的政治家必須混合不同的特質；亞里斯多德主張貧富要均衡。

In several issues, Aristotle’s Politics argues with Plato’s Politicus. 1.Platon: There is only one knowledge or expertise of ruling; Aristotle: There are, according to the different forms of associations, different forms of ruling. 2.Plato: The only criterion for the correct constitution is that the rulers possess expert knowledge; all the other constitutions are only imitations. Aristotle: There are three correct constitutions; the criterion is whether the constitution aims at the common good. 3.Plato: Law is imperfect because it cannot do justice to all circumstances; the ideal ruler is to be preferred to the law. Aristotle: The authority of the law is based not he fact that it is independent form subjective interests. 4.Plato: The expert knowledge of ruling human beings can be found in few people only; Aristotle stresses the common sense of the many. 5.Plato: The state is a hierarchy of arts and ends; Aristotle: all citizens participate in the final end of the state. 6.Plato: The ideal statesman has to interweave the different characters; Aristotle argues for a balance between the rich and the poor.