1. The Old Science of Politics Aristotle and The Teleological City

2. Plato’s Best City If the highest good is the proper telos of man, then cities must be ordered to lead men to the highest good. The only legitimate ruler, therefore, is the one who seeks the highest good—a lover of wisdom: The Philosopher King Ironically he who seeks the highest good is least of all concerned with the affairs of the city.

3. The corruption of regimes Philosophical Kingship—the One who knows (and loves) the True, the Good, the Beautiful (contemplates the realm of Eternal Forms) Aristocracy—rule by the “best” in the city Timocracy—rule of honor Oligarchy—rule by the few Democracy—rule by the many Tyranny—rule by the ‘usurper’, usually one

4. Aristotle Objects! Plato’s corruption of regimes does not match human experience. Democracies have been overthrown by Oligarchies (Athens by Corinth), and Oligarchies by Tyrants (Corinth by Philip of Macedon) Philosophical Kingship is an impossible city Monarchies and Tyrannies, Oligarchies and Aristocracies easily confused in human experience

5. Aristotle’s Politics Human beings always found in ordered communities Even households are ordered communities Human beings cannot live long in isolation Ergo, man must be political by nature Those who are totally self- sufficient (i.e. they need no human contact of any kind) are either superhuman or subhuman All human beings seek that which they think is good All communities are ordered towards some good

6. Households v. Cities Relations in the Household Husband/wife Parents/children Child/child Master/slave Power in the City Ruler/ruled Rule by one Rule by few Rule by many Types of Power Monarchic power Oligarchic power Political power Despotic power Social Classes The One (monad) The Few (oligoi) The Many (demos) WHAT?!

7. OK, Try Again… Who Rules?For Whose Good?

8. Building Aristotle’s Cities Who Rules? One Few Many For Whose Good? The City’s Good The Rulers’ Good What about the good of the Ruled? What happens if a Ruler rules for the good of the Ruled and ignores his own good?

9. Virtuous and Defective Cities Who Rules? One Few Many For Whose Good? MonarchyTyranny AristocracyOligarchy Democracy

10. The Problem: How to ensure that the many rule for the good of all? Who Rules? One Few Many

11. The Mixed Regime The One The FewThe Many In Aristotle’s Mixed Regime, Each part of the city both rules and is ruled in turn