Aristotle and his "Politics"

Summary

In this episode, 'Understanding Politics' explores Aristotle's views on politics as a natural human society, analyzing the polis's origins, family relationships, and economic foundations. Aristotle contrasts with Plato, advocating for private property and a balanced constitution adaptable to various social classes and climates. He emphasizes the importance of a middle-class rule, the sovereignty of law, and identifies causes of social unrest, providing a pragmatic approach to political science.

Takeaways

• 📚 Aristotle views politics as one of the four main disciplines of human science, alongside psychology, ethics, and rhetoric.
• 🌐 Aristotle believes that the polis is a natural society for humans, and thus humans are inherently political beings.
• 🏠 The origin of poleis is found in human communities, starting from families and extending to tribes, eventually forming city-states.
• 🔑 Aristotle compares family relationships to those in the polis, justifying slavery based on a hierarchy of intelligence.
• 🏛️ The polis is based on the pillars of family and property, with wealth seen as a result of different families' economies and chrematistics.
• 🌱 Aristotle argues against Plato's collectivist system, advocating for private property with the possibility of common enjoyment of assets.
• 📊 He outlines four phases in the study of politics: identifying the best constitution, realizing it practically, stabilizing it, and finding a constitution suitable for all cities.
• 🏖️ Aristotle suggests an ideal polis location between mountains and sea for defense and commerce, with a population size for personal knowledge and defense.
• 🌡️ Different races are determined by climate, with the Mediterranean race being best suited for political systems due to a balance of characteristics.
• 👥 Citizens' virtue is the ability to rule and be ruled, differing from political virtue which involves ruling with prudence and rationality.
• 📉 Aristotle identifies six ideal constitutions: monarchy, aristocracy, democracy, tyranny, oligarchy, and demagogy, and distinguishes between formal and material constitutions.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Aristotle's work 'Politics'?

Aristotle's work 'Politics' focuses on the analysis of the polis, its origins, formation, and the relationships within it, as well as the functioning of constitutions and the role of citizens.

How does Aristotle define the term 'zoon politikon'?

Aristotle defines 'zoon politikon' as 'political being,' suggesting that humans are naturally inclined to live in communities and participate in politics.

What is Aristotle's view on the origin of poleis?

Aristotle finds the origin of poleis in human communities, starting with nuclear families, then extended families, tribes, and finally the formation of poleis through the aggregation of different tribes from neighboring villages.

How does Aristotle justify slavery based on intelligence?

Aristotle justifies slavery by establishing a hierarchy of intelligences, where children have potential intelligence, wives have attenuated intelligence, and slaves have almost non-existent intelligence, mirroring their roles in the polis.

What is the role of economy and chrematistics in Aristotle's view of the polis?

For Aristotle, the economy is the system of rules used in the family to procure products, while chrematistics is the production of wealth. The polis is based upon the pillars of family and property, with properties being the outcome of families' economy and chrematistics.

Why does Aristotle oppose Plato's idea of taking property away from citizens?

Aristotle opposes Plato's idea because he believes that wealth is not the result of injustice but rather the different work of different families, and a collectivist system would only realize maximum injustice.

What are the four major phases Aristotle describes in the study of politics?

Aristotle describes four major phases in the study of politics: identifying the best constitution based on philosophical conclusions; studying how to realize the constitution practically; researching how to stabilize the current constitution; and understanding the constitution more adapt to all cities.

How does Aristotle criticize Plato's approach to constitutions?

Aristotle criticizes Plato for focusing too much on ideal constitutions and forgetting the practical implications of implementing them, emphasizing the need for constitutions to be doable, stable, and sustainable.

What are the six social classes Aristotle distinguishes in the polis and their functions?

Aristotle distinguishes six social classes in the polis: peasants, artisans, warriors, landowners, priests, and magistrates. Each class corresponds to specific functions essential for the functioning of society.

What does Aristotle believe about the ideal location and population of a polis?

Aristotle believes a polis should be located between the mountains and the sea, with fertile ground and easy access to the sea for commerce. The population should be small enough for personal knowledge among members but large enough to defend against foreign incursions.

How does Aristotle view the role of the middle class in ruling?

Aristotle believes that the middle class is the best fit to rule because it avoids the extremes represented by the wealthiest and poorest social classes, promoting stability and balance in governance.

What are the three main conditions that cause political unrest according to Aristotle?

Aristotle identifies three main conditions that cause political unrest: moral-ideological reasons or convictions, the goals that these revolts aim to achieve, and occasions for revolts to occur.