(Originally written November 9, 2006 in Book 11)
Aristotle
Political Theory
The good life can only be realized in a community because contemplation is best when it occurs between friends of virtue.
Aristotle held that the best community must be a small, city-state.
The small city-state must be ruled by an elite class and have a large slave population.
"Man is by nature a political animal" (289)
Aristotle disagreed with the Sophist notion that man is sufficient to himself, maintaining he must live in a polis (city-state) to achieve the good life.
Aristotle differed from Plato in his description of the best government. Plato focused on the ideal state; whereas, Aristotle focused on the best state in a given situation.
Classifications of States
One Ruler - True Form (Monarchy), Perverted Form (Tyranny)
Few Rulers - True Form (Aristocracy), Perverted Form (Oligarchy)
Many Rulers - True Form (Polity), Perverted Form (Democracy)
Absolute Monarchy is the true ideal state, but its perversion, absolute tyranny is the worst state possible.
Aristotle was a political realist; whereas Plato was a political idealist.
Aristotle held aristocracy to be a good government, but the risk of it being perverted into an oligarchy is too great for it to be a viable form of government.
Oligarchy's selfish nature makes it a bad government.
Democracy is the perversion of polity.
Polity is the rule by many in the interest of the state as a whole. Democracy was the rule by the many in the interest of the many, but not the whole.
Polity is a mean between oligarchy and democracy.
Aristotle studied historical Greek government to arrive at his conclusion.
1) Kingship is ideally the best
2) Aristocracy is ideally the second best
3) Polity is ideally the third best
4) Democracy is the least worst actual government
5) Oligarchy is the second worst actual government
6) Tyranny is the worst actual government
Aristotle felt that most ideal governments were impossible or unlikely to be founded, so he focused on the governments most likely to occur.
The Rule of Law
Aristotle held that the power of the government should lie in the hands of the middle class, except in extraordinary circumstances.
But, Aristotle held that a law should be written to govern the people in most situations, regardless of who held the power.
Aristotle advocated for checks and balances in government so that one group of people did not gain all the advantages.
Aristotle's view of Citizenship
Only those with the best potential should be afforded citizenship.
Women and slaves were excluded by Aristotle because they lacked talent.
Laborers and mechanics were excluded because they lacked the leisure time to obtain the good life.
The Problem of Slavery
Aristotle held that men were naturally unequal so his morals were not hurt by his advocacy of slavery.
"A slave is an instrument who makes possible the leisure without which no man can live well" (301).
Slaves can understand, but they can't reason. They lack cognitive power to achieve true happiness.
Aristotle's argument is troubled because even if it is granted that some men are born slaves and other born masters, it does not follow that who is a master and who is a slave in reality are in the right position.
Another problem is that a slave may not have been born a slave, but after a life of slavery he/she has become only suited to be a slave. It has nothing to do with nature, only the nurture.
Aristotle confused the value of intellectual or cultural excellence and the value of personality.
Kant put it well when he said that all men should be treated as an end and never as a means.
Manual for Anti-Revolutionists
Aristotle was normally guided by practical and not utopian ideals.
Aristotle laid out matter-of-fact ways for any state to avoid revolution because revolution in any state was not conducive to the good life.
Theory of Art
Aristotle held that our enjoyment of art comes from basic characteristics of human nature.
Aristotle and Plato believed art to be cognitive.
Art performed a very important function in Aristotle.
Poetry was the mean between of history and science. It provided both universals and particulars.
Aristotle held that the emotive quality of art was that it quiets the passions of men.
Evaluation of Aristotle's Philosophy
The most impressive aspect of Aristotle's philosophy is the "power of the system".
Aristotle's philosophy is unifying as a whole: physical, social world, inner moral aspects, and esthetic life are all brought under the "matter and form" concept.
Form and matter is problematic for Aristotle because it seems to be either vague or inexplicable.
Aristotle's method breaks down in physics. His method was empirical; today's method is mathematical. His philosophy of science was teleological; today's model is mechanistic.
Another place his method breaks down in religious experience. Matter-form wasn't the problem here (St. Thomas used it quite well) but Aristotle's lack of appreciation for religion was.
Plato was whimsical and ironic; Aristotle was matter-of-fact.
Plato and Aristotle can complement rather than contradict one another. They were a connected effort to solve the central problem of Greek culture. These problems have persisted throughout Western Culture, even to today.
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