Aristotle

Aristotle

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  AristotleTeaching document...not tobe cited... Father of Political Science: 1st to analyse, critically and systematically the then existing constitutions (158 constitutions); one of the 1st to use comparative method Primarily an encyclopaedist - well-versed in a number of disciplines: aesthetics, biology, ethics, logic, physics, politics; lay down the principles of library classification Aristotle was a disciple of Plato, his masterpiece the Politics differed both in temper and content from that of his mentor; the Nicomachean Ethics and the Eudemian Ethics or On the Soul. Aristotle primary interest lay in subjects like  Human behaviour  Political institutions  Constitutions and  Factors of political stability Aristotle regarded aristocracy ideal... however, on grounds of feasibility, accountability and efficiency, Aristotle advocated a mixed form of government - rule by rotation - none had a monopoly over political power. Life Sketch – students have to do... established his school, Lyceum; He remained oblivious, did not reflect then changes- in spite of his close links with Alexander Politics Detailed examination of the nature of the state and its origins, an analysis of the ideal state and the different constitutions of actual states, the concepts of citizenship, law and constitution In the Politics he regarded the state as the chief source and avenue for the realization of individual happiness.
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  The object ofthe Politics was both speculative and practical, for it explained the nature of the ideal city in which the happiness of the individual would be realized Book II - Ideal State, a historical study of earlier theories, and criticism of Plato Book III - The nature of the state and citizenship, the virtues of good person, a good citizen Books VII and VIII - The construction of the Ideal State Books IV, V, and VI - Dealt with the study of actual states, mainly democracy and oligarchy, along with the reasons for their decay and factors that could ensure their stability Conception of Human Nature & State: Man by nature was a political animal/social animal For Aristotle, the good of a community was clearly the greater...still, private life was a necessary Aristotle was convinced of the individual‘s innate sociability- reason distinguish humans from other social species Listed the virtues of gentle person...Courage, Generosity, Modesty, Pride, temperance, Wit... GOLDEN MEAN A happy man required ―external goods‖ like health, wealth and FRIENDS (IMPORTANT THAN JUSTICE) State was an association of persons for the sake of securing the best moral life... realization of the full human potential State was prior to the individual - it provided opportunities for the achievement of full humanity Ideal state is association of equals Aristotle pointed out that the state evolved from lower associations: Family village Polis/political community Aristotle defined a constitution As a form of government+ a set of norms+ a way of life+ determined the moral character of a state...identity of the polis... compare Indian Constitution
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  NATURE OF HAPPINESSOR EUDAIMONIA Good as happiness... happiness? Defined in terms of function...The quest for excellence In the Rhetoric, Aristotle regarded a life of sufficiency and self-reliance as being a happy one In the Nicomachean Ethics, he clarified it as ethical virtue and pursuit of reason In the Eudemian Ethics, he contended that to live meant to know, to think collectively, implying that individual and social consciousness were intertwined Aristotle's Soul Quality Irrational Vegetative - To all living beings Appetitive - Human beings- emotions Rational-for human beings Aristotle's 2 virtues to attain happiness Ethical virtues:depends on one's activity ...not possible to taught...instilled through habit...GOLDEN MEAN Intelluctual: knowlegde of final causes and practical wisdom...contemplation... reasoning
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  HOUSEHOLD (SLAVES, WOMEN& PROPERTY) Household was important - self-preservation and procreative functions, and for the satisfaction of economic needs...training the young to be good citizens Slavery-defended...some by nature...Slave: barbarians not Greeks...an instrument...humane treatments...all prisoners of war not slave Slavery was seen as being mutually beneficial...Master - Slave Slavery was not permanent...would go with advancement in technology Women Education yes...but no sexual equality No unrestricted freedom Part of city...but no political participation...part of private realm Husband & wife...interdependent...not equal...command & obedience Why subordinate position? Deliberative faculty weak...good health of the polis About women...Aristotle....Reiterated by Rousseau Property Moderate & adequate private property Economic activity subordinate to political... Critical of corrupt financial gain... rejected retail trade Appreciated use-value...not exchange- value of goods 1st to pay attention...economic basis of political institution Distribute Justice Justice – complete virtue...not absolute...relative Distinguished between DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE... meant that offices and wealth, rewards and dues were distributed among different social classes according to their contributions based on merit Numbers mattered in popular claims, wealth was an important component in an oligarchic claim, and virtue in an aristocratic claim— thus giving a share to everyone in the political process. Justice as central to equality and
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  CORRECTIVE OR RECTIFICATORYOR REMEDIAL JUSTICE...by judge matters like contracts or criminal law RULE OF LAW AND CONSTITUTION Law as the final authority... personal authority only desirable if not easy to codify laws Rule of law...however... Subject did not totally surrender his judgement and responsibility, for both the ruler and the ruled had a defined legal status Constitutional ruler - Subject relationship was different from Master – Slave (lacked reason) Constitutional rule – 3 main elements: Rule in the general or common interest; Government not act contrary to the constitution; rule by consent, rather than by force. Public opinion must be admitted The most important institution was a civic body, which was sovereign Constitution’s 3 elements Deliberative-supreme -4 functions- students have to do The official or magisterial, and The judicial Classification of constitutions Ruler 1 Few Many Rule Good Monarchy (a true form of government) Aristocracy Polity Perverted Tyranny Oligarchy Democracy Good Rule of law
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  5 types ofKingship, 3 types of Aristocracy, 4 types of Oligarchy, and 4 types of Democracy - students have to do Separation of state from society; social classes - decisively influencing the political system Aristotle distinguished intention (constitution) & reality (actual working) Polity in accordance with his principle of the golden mean-constitutional government-moderate democracy in Book III; a combination of the lot (elections, property qualifications and relative merit); The rich enjoyed great benefits and privileges, but were unwilling to accept discipline. The poor, because of their deprivation, lacked spirit and enthusiasm. Therefore, the MIDDLE CLASS “save states” Constituted the mean in the social structure... ensure stability Steered a middle path between the insolence of the rich and the unruly behaviour of the bitterly poor Fulfilment of two important political ideals: equality and consensus Democracy: Free born & poor controlled - did not exclude the rich or well-born from holding office or participating in politics Citizenship At the centre of his political analysis... contrary to Plato Natural for people to aspire for political positions Resident aliens (legal rights but) and slaves, young and the old, women, to an extent working class -not citizens; Aristotle excluded slaves and producers from the citizen body A citizen Who shared power in the polis; have the intelligence and the ability to rule and be ruled; shoulder civic responsibilities; deliberative faculty and the leisure to understand the working of politics
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  Revolution: Causes andRemedies...consequences also Causes... students have to do Consequences Change in the constitution of a state Constitution unchanged...ruler changed...to have more power Change in the nature of the state... more or less oligarchic/ more or less democratic Other thoughts Aristotle described politics as the master science and art, for it determined the ordering of the sciences to be studied in a state by every class of citizen. Aristotle equated ‗Good’ with happiness or eudaimonia, and was confident that it could be attained through education, a branch of politics. Conclusion 1) Political scientist...? 2) Empirical & inductive method 3) Teleological 4) Intimate link between individual-state 5) Ethics & Politics complementary 6) Accepted city-state...rejected the cosmopolitan & imperial model of Alexander Socrates virtue is knowledge; a life unexamined is not worth living Plato Aristotle Hierarchy of human nature, justice as a relation or order among parts, and the Hierarchy of human nature, justice as a relation or order among parts, and the inevitability of social classes
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  inevitability of social classes Aristocratic conservative– revitalising & reforming aristocracy Aristocratic conservative – revitalising & reforming aristocracy Aristocratic conservative – revitalising & reforming aristocracy…however Working class could not rule, and that the ruling class - could own land - should not work nor earn any money Working class could not rule, and that the ruling class - could own land - should not work nor earn any money State a natural institution-stressed its self-sufficiency and self-governing characteristics State a natural institution-stressed its self-sufficiency and self- governing characteristics Primary task of a state was to ensure justice Primary task of a state was to ensure justice Citizenship was a privilege and a status to be inherited. Citizenship was a privilege and a status to be inherited. state-managed and state-controlled education state-managed and state-controlled education Developed dialectical method Critique of Plato: Criticized Plato‘s theory of Forms on three grounds The Idea or Form is in the thing (like the adult in the embryo) not outside- students have to do Idealist, Radical Realist, Moderate Justice meant morality Justice meant equality Restricted to branches Foundations of many disciplines;
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  of philosophy (epistemology, metaphysics andmoral philosophy) several subjects of natural sciences. Rejected Republic Accepted Laws Not mention slavery- regarded unimportant Slavery would change with technology Ruler-subject relationship : automatic command obedience Ruler-subject relationship : equality Education – political unity Education – political unity + economic significance Classified governments on the basis of their law-abidingness Classified governments - Used the criterion of general welfare and the number who wielded political power Wisdom and virtue had an absolute claim to power Claims to power based upon the rights of property and the welfare of the greater number Citizen body- large Citizen body- compact and close- knit... military command, public communications and judicial pronouncements to be effective Change - equated with decay and corruption Change as inevitable Golden Mean, advocacy of mixed constitution Faith in middle-class rule as being best for ensuring a stable and enduring government Conviction of the family being the bedrock of the state The necessity of property to ensure
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  self-sufficiency and fulfillthe instinct of possessiveness in the individual Social differentiation was the key ordering principle of a good, stable state. Aristotle separated the political from the non-political – not keen to eliminate the private - On the contrary, the private and public were complementary Permanent rule by a philosopher would lead to discontent and dissension not only among the ordinary citizens, but also among the high-spirited and the soldiers. Aristotle pointed out that politics was not merely about the rule of the capable. A stable polity would have to accommodate the aspirations of different claimants. Aristotle was critical of denying the lower classes the right to political opinions and participation Aristotle shared with Plato his dislike for democracy, but, unlike Plato, was willing to accept democracy as unavoidable. Respect for popular opinion.
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  STATEMENTS TO BEPROBED The Politics is a retrospective anachronism – Kenny A feast to do which many contribute is better than a dinner provided out of a single purse (Aristotle) Greek citizenship depended not so much on rights which could be claimed as on responsibilities which had with pride to be shouldered (Heater) Aristotle ―bequeathed a great legacy to political thought, but not to any one school‖ (Curtis) Source: