Aristotle's Politics Flashcards
On Human Nature and Political Life
Human beings are, by nature, political animals. They naturally seek to live together in city-states (polis) because they require speech (logos) to deliberate about justice and the good
“Man is by nature a political animal”
argument on human nature and political life
The polis arises naturally because only in community can humans fully develop their capacity for reason and moral virtue
Living alone is either beastly or divine - not human
Reasoning on human nature and political life
Speech allows discussion of right and wrong (logos), not just expression of pleasure or pain (as animals do)
Human flourishing
(eudaimonia) requires participation in political life and the pursuit of common goods
Comparison to the Other Thinkers on human nature and political life
Plato: Agrees humans need community, but Plato emphasizes rational rule over natural community
Thucydides: Opposite - sees political life as dangerous and driven by fear, not natural flourishing
Machiavelli: Sees political life as a contest of ambition, not a natural development
Hobbes: Believes humans are naturally anti-social; politics is an artificial survival mechanism
Locke: Humans are naturally free and reasonable but only form governments for protection - not fulfillment
Justice and the City
Justice in politics is the principle of the common advantage - ruling not for private gain but for the good of the community
“The political good is justice, and this is the common advantage.”
Argument for justice and the city
Justice differs by regime, because political communities disagree on what justice demands (equality, merit, wealth, etc…)
However, Aristotle classifies regimes based on whether they rule for the common good (correct) or private interest (deviant)
Reasoning for justice and the city
The political community exists for living well, not merely surviving
Therefore, the best regime secures conditions for moral virtue and shared flourishing, not just power
Comparison to Other Thinkers for justice and the city
Plato: Plato seeks a perfect Form of justice; Aristotle accepts many partial, real-world versions
Thucydides: Rejects idea of a common good; sees only shifting power interests
Machiavelli: Justice is irrelevant if it prevents acquisition and survival
Hobbes: Justice is whatever the sovereign defines it to be
Locke: Justice is natural, rooted in individual rights, not common good per se
Hume: Justice emerges as a useful social convention, not a natural or moral truth
On Conflict and Stability
Conflict (stasis) arises naturally from class divisions (wealth vs. poverty), and stability depends on managing these conflicts intelligently
“Stasis arises… because of inequality, when equals are treated unequally or unequals equally.
Argument on conflict and stability
Political instability results when social groups believe they are treated unjustly
The two major sources of conflict are:
- Poor vs. Rich: about equality
- Claims of Merit: the few believing they deserve more political power
Aristotle advises moderation
- Avoid extreme wealth inequality
- Build large middle classes to buffer conflict
reasoning on conflict and stability
Humans are naturally comparative and sensitive to perceived injustice
Stable regimes blend claims of rich and poor to create loyalty and limit faction
comparison to other thinkers on conflict and stability
Plato: Seeks total unity through abolishing private families/wealth (Book V); Aristotle finds that unrealistic and dangerous
Thucydides: Sees stasis as inevitable and catastrophic; Aristotle believes it can be managed through good institutions
Machiavelli: Embraces conflict as a driver of political vitality and liberty
Hobbes: Sees conflict as dangerous; suppresses it through sovereign fear
Locke: Focuses more on government securing rights; less on active management of class conflict
Hume: Thinks commercial life mitigates political conflict by spreading interests
Diversity in Aristotle
Diversity of interests and groups is natural but must be managed through political arrangements that blend different claims
diversity argument
Different constitutions fit different types of cities depending on their social composition
No one-size-fits-all perfect regime
Good states recognize and synthesize competing demands rather than seeking total unity
reasoning for diversity
Practical experience shows cities differ by wealth, military style, geography, and traditions
Best political practice is prudential adjustice, not utopian uniformity
Comparison to Other Thinkers on diversity
Plato: Suspicious of diversity; believes it leads to faction and decay
Thucydides: Believes diversity leads to dangerous factionalism (Corcyra)
Machiavelli: Sees conflict between groups (elite vs people) as productive for liberty
Hobbes: Suppresses diversity through absolute sovereignty; distrusts diverse opinions
Locke: Accepts limited diversity as long as natural rights are preserved
Hume: Fully embraces diversity in commercial and political life
