ARISTOTLE

Unlike Plato, ARISTOTLE was non-athinian philosopher who

was born in Macedonia.But he moved to athenes where he
joined Platonic academy to study philosophy . Over the
period of time he developed his own ideas and thoughts
which were in contrast with Platonic philosophy.
Aristotle’s ideas were empirical ,scientific,and pragmatic in
nature distinguished from Platonic ideas of more
philosophical and idealistic in nature.
Aristotle established his academy named LYCEUM which was
different from Platonic academy in terms of empirical and
scientific operations.
In context of counter thoughts of Plato and Aristotle to each
other Aristotle stated DEAR IS PLATO, BUT DEARER STILL IS
THE TRUTH.
He was first to develop science and art of constitution making
and just state by studying the 158 constitutions prevailing in
then Greek city-states.
Considering about the difference between Plato and Aristotle
, it is beautifully depicted in a painting – The school of Athens
by Raphael where Plato is depicted as sign of heaven and
Aristotle is pointed towards ground.
But one thing need to be noted ,for Aristotle politics as
pragmatic science does not mean denial of role of ethics or
idealism in politics.
In short, Aristotle tried to extend the argument of Plato in
pragmatic and scientific form for sake of leading good and
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ethical life. By criticizing Plato and providing very influential
insight about the good life and study of politics.But at the
same time he also continuing the platonic objective of “how
to live a good life”.
• POLITICS AS MASTER SCIENCE
Aristotle regarded politics as master science because
knowledge of politics helps men to live ethical life which
implies the realization of full potentialities
(EUDAIMONIA) as moral being and such lives are
possible in a polity or a good community .
Platonic vision of politics which was driven by the
harmony of existence & knowledge of forms or goods
but Aristotle wanted political knowledge to be based on
pragmatic wisdom which enables man to be rational
and ethical to make good judgement(PHRONESIS).
For him politics is not just about the power for the sake
of power but politics is an art & science which enables
us to lead an ethical and moral life which is not only
philosophical but also the pragmatic knowledge.
If we look in modern world , the focus is on individuality
but for Aristotle individual can live good and ethical life
only in community. That’s why in his book POLITICS
Aristotle believed ‘ man was a political animal’.
Aristotle is regarded as conservative thinker but
sometimes his name is also linked with revolutionary
thinkers.
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Aristotle influenced thinkers like KANT,HANSKALSEN and John
Rawls and many others multiculturalist & communitarian
thinkers.
Ethics and Virtue:
Aristotle positioned the the man between God and beast.
Man is by nature a social and political animal(zoon politikon).
The one who does not live in society is either God or beast.
Acc. to him man are distinct from other animals only in terms
of their rationality and ability to distinguish between good &
evil and just & unjust , that makes a man by nature a moral or
ethical being.
For Aristotle nature of man or thing lies in its ‘soul’(psyche)
with its purpose(telos) and its function(ergon). Thus a good
life is in performing one’s task and thereby realizing one’s full
potentialities.He believed all times things are in constant
movement from potentialities to realization and beyond to
decay and transformation.
Aristotle reflects the association of ethics with politics like
Gandhi. But in modern times politics is understood only in
terms of power only.
One more thing to be noted that Aristotle regarded politics as
master science , as an inexact but productive science which is
different from natural sciences and also differentiated from
philosophic speculations and intuitions.
While Aristotle compairing different constitutions he realized
one thing that not even single constitution out of them was
appropriate to operate effectively in the state because he
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found that all that constitutions were reflecting extreme
versions of themselves which may lead to instability in the
state so he advocated the idea of GOLDEN MEAN as the
virtuous way to lead happy and ethical life in the state.
Sometimes as exceptions he also emphasized on knowledge
of specificities.It gives ethics a deontological basis in contrast
to moral and ethical relativism. Thus murder ,lying,cheating
,adultery are morally wrong and on the other hand
honesty,truthfulness,and courage are good in itself.
Finally his ethics is based on principle of justice as both
fairness a sense of proportional equality.
• POLITICS AND HIS IDEAL STATE:
For Aristotle a good life for the individual is
unimaginable without a good polity or state . Before
describing his ideal state ,he studied the constitutions of
158 countries prevalent in then Greek city-states.This
became the basis for comparative study of constitutions
and polity.
Unlike Plato, Aristotle distinguished between personal
and political life. For him, household was basic unit of
society and it has three kind of relations : relation
between parents-childrens, relation between husband –
wife and relation between master-slave. He placed
economic activities in the realm of household or
personal jurisdiction but dependent on political sphere.
Aristotle wanted limited acquisition of property it was
the reason that he preferred agrarian economy over
mercantilism and mechanical pursuit of profit.
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ARISTOTLE’S DEFENSE OF SLAVERY
Aristotle’s justification of slavery was contradictory , on one
hand he called all man as zoon-politikon,rational and moral
being but on other hand he justified specific section of man
as subject to slavery.
He believed slavery as natural institution. His justification of
slavery was derived from existing prejudices of his time and
society , which should not have justified where men were
regarded as means instead of the end.
His justification of slavery was restricted to only specific
group of people which included non-greek prisoners of
war(pow) and barbarians and this concept of slavery was
applicable only to household. While in other spheres of polity
all other men were regarded as equal in all political
deliberations and judicial administration.
CLASSIFICATION OF CONSTITUTIONS:
As I mentioned earlier he reviewed 158 constitutions before
arriving to description of his ideal state.His comparative study
of constitutions led him to develop six ideal types of polities
in Greek city-states. This classification was based on two
factors:
1. Number of rulers
2. Interest for which rule is done
Aristotle ranked regimes from best to worst –
Monarchy,Aristocracy,Polity,Democracy,Oligarchy and Tyranny
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Acc. to him these six types of regimes or polities are the ideal
types that exist only in theory . In practice within each there
are numerous forms. He regarded constitutions are often
mixed constitutions in practice . Even two perverted forms of
constitutions could turn out to be just constitutions.e.g.
combination of democracy and oligarchy.
Like Plato , Aristotle also held that ruling should be done by
knowledgeable persons. It is a kind of profession but ruler
must be inculcated with ethical and moral values.
For Aristotle , POLITY is best form of state, where power &
responsibilities are widely shared based on merit , noble birth
and wealth which is exercised in interest of all . It is ultimate
institution for associational living , its purpose is to enable
the good life of its citizens .
Four key features of polity:
1. Constitution
2. Citizen
3. Government
4. Statesman
Constitution is regarded as soul or the foundation of a polity
which reflects the notion of ethical or shared values of
community.
Size of the Aristotelian ideal state must not exceed to 10,000.
He suggested that population of state should be dominated
by middle class , its existence is very much essential for
stability of state. He also preferred number of heads over one
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head because his belief in collective wisdom that allows him
to regard polity over monarchy or aristocracy as an ideal
form. Polity combines justice with stability and order in the
state .
Citizenship and views on revolution:
Aristotle’s concept of citizenship was very narrow it included
only Greek men actively involved in political deliberations and
judicial administration of the state . The Greek women ,
slaves and barbarians were not entitled to citizenship they
were regarded only as subjects to entitled citizens.
Unlike today where citizens get chance once in five years to
elect their representatives but in Greek city- states citizens
had active participation in all political matters and all citizens
were regarded equal in their values regardless of rich or poor.
This idea of Aristotle reflects his classical vision of civic
republicanism.
Talking about revolution , he argued that when rulers would
become corrupt and lose their moral values then this
corruption would make civic or political life impossible . It
would finally lead to revolutions and upheavals.
By and large Aristotle saw revolution or stasis as evil and
provided an elaborate mechanism in politics that he advised
even to the tyrant- the most perverted form of regimes as
how to retain power .
In conclusion , Aristotle took up the idea to find the happy life
for the individuals in real sense instead of ideal terms which
were utopia like Platonic philosophy. He believed happiness
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or full potentialities can be realized only in state or
community composed of people holding ethical and moral
values . He also called politics as master science as because it
shows us way of living with ethical values . He restricted
citizenship to only limited people i.e. only Greek men. Overall
he proposed excellent work in more pragmatic and scientific
terms.
• Important books of Aristotle:
1. The nichomachean ethics
2. Politics
3. Poetics
4. Rhetoric
5. On the soul
6. History of animals
7. Problems
8. On generations and corruptions
9. Metaphysics