Ancient Political Theory Aristotle’s Politics

Aristotle 1. Humanity: Essence vs Contingency 2. Aristotle vs Plato on “Unity of Polis” 3. Classification of Constitutions

Humanity: Essence vs Contingency  Aristotle’s description of essence of polis  Polis is that arena which allows us to be human  Means we need to understand the essence of man (mankind)  That is, to know “real” political society, need to know human essence, need to know human nature

Human Nature  What is human nature?  Distinguish between attributes which are contingent and those which are essential –Contingent: those of our qualities which we can do without –Essential: those attributes which we can’t  e.g. analogy with personal identity  unchosen attributes so integral to an understanding of what you are, the absence of which would entail change in one’s identity

Human Nature  For Aristotle, human beings are the zoon politikon, defined by reason, speech, public dialogue  Polis, then, is not production of just mere life, but good life  Mere life is necessary, but it is not an integral part of the good life back

Humanity: Essence vs Contingency  If Political life is so crucial, then we need to know how best to do it

II. Aristotle vs Plato on “Unity of Polis”  Plato recap –Justice is the bond which holds a society together –A harmonious union of individuals, each of whom has found his life work in accordance with his natural fitness and training

II. Aristotle vs Plato  Aristotle Critique –Impracticality –Confusion  (Plato misunderstands both the unity to which polis aims and what it is to be human)

II. Aristotle vs Plato  Impracticality –attacks community of women & children –attacks shared property in Guardian class (Book 2, chp. 3, 1261b) –objects that family is dismembered for upper class –replaces love (glue to polis) with some “watery sentiment” (Book 2, chp. 4)) –But recall, Plato would say: “Exactly!” the whole point was to eliminate partiality from guardians

II. Aristotle vs Plato  Confusion: Does Plato’s republic promote virtue? –look at virtue again –virtue of liberality (generosity) vs. greed (one in love with one’s own) –if we stop greed, have we made the people virtuous (given them liberality)?

II. Aristotle vs Plato  Aristotle says we have not  People in Plato’s republic have nothing to be greedy about (or generous about)  So we haven’t developed the guardians as moral persons (simply by removing all occasions for vice)

II. Aristotle vs Plato  Virtue is self-mastery  So need opportunity to choose right from wrong (Book 2, chp. 5)  Thus Plato’s republic is not what political life all about

II. Aristotle vs Plato  Republic does not allow us to develop our own virtue, which is end of polis  Good of polis is determined by good of separate individuals in the polis back

III. Classification of Constitutions  Based on observation of “real world” constitutions  Terms we need to define: –State –Citizen –Constitution

III. Classification of Constitutions  The State (Polis): –An association of citizens in a constitution –“The city is the multitude of such persons that is adequate with a view to a self-sufficient life, to speak simply” (III, 1) back

III. Classification of Constitutions  Citizens: “A citizen proper is not one by virtue of residence in a given place: for even aliens and slaves may share the common place of residence…” (III, 1, 1274b). “Nor those who share in legal processes only to the extent of being entitled to sue and be sued in the courts…” (III, 1, 1274b).

III. Classification of Constitutions “Who the citizen is, then, is evident from these things. Whoever is entitled to participate in an office involving deliberation or decision is, we can now say, a citizen in this city…” (III, 1, 1275b)

III. Classification of Constitutions  Note, this means that not everyone necessary for the city counts as a citizen: “The truth is that we cannot include as citizens all who are necessary to the city’s existence… The best form of city will not make the mechanic a citizen” (III, 5, 1277b). (recall the prior discussion of natural slaves) back

III. Classification of Constitutions  The Constitution: “The regime [constitution] is an arrangement of a city with respect to its offices, particularly the one that has authority over all” (III, 6, 1278b) “The regime [constitution] is an arrangement of a city with respect to its offices, particularly the one that has authority over all” (III, 6, 1278b) The “one with authority over all” defines the sovereign. It is the ultimate ruler in the affairs of the city. back

III. Classification of Constitutions  Classifies on the basis of two criteria: –Size of the Ruling Regime –“End” of the Regime

Aristotle’s Regime Types MonarchyTyranny AristocracyOligarchy PolityDemocracy Size Of Regime “End” of Regime Public GoodPrivate Gain back

Aristotle’s Regime Types MonarchyTyranny AristocracyOligarchy PolityDemocracy Size Of Regime “End” of Regime Public GoodPrivate Gain

Aristotle’s Regime Types MonarchyTyranny AristocracyOligarchy PolityDemocracy Size Of Regime “End” of Regime Public GoodPrivate Gain

Aristotle’s Regime Types MonarchyTyranny AristocracyOligarchy PolityDemocracy Size Of Regime “End” of Regime Public GoodPrivate Gain

Aristotle’s Regime Types MonarchyTyranny AristocracyOligarchy PolityDemocracy Size Of Regime “End” of Regime Public GoodPrivate Gain

Aristotle’s Regime Types MonarchyTyranny AristocracyOligarchy PolityDemocracy Size Of Regime “End” of Regime Public GoodPrivate Gain

Aristotle’s Regime Types MonarchyTyranny AristocracyOligarchy PolityDemocracy Size Of Regime “End” of Regime Public GoodPrivate Gain

IV. Conclusion & Preview  Given these different regime types, which one is best?  What is the best regime?  What explains the transformation of these regimes? back