Aristotle: The Relationship Between Slavery and Political Government and Constitution
Aristotle (384-322 BC) was a Greek philosopher as well as a scientist and social thinker. He is considered one of the most influential thinkers of the ancient world and his views on political theory still have influence today.
Central to all his philosophical thinking is the idea of reason and rationality. Aristotle's view that reason was the primary and most important aspect of human nature has important implications for his theory of the political constitution of society, and particularly for his justification of slavery. His thinking was based on the belief that the constitution and ordering of society as a political body should be based on the principle of reason and order that was to be found in nature.
Aristotle conducts his philosophical inquiries based on the presuppositions that the universe is a rational and ordered whole in which each part has a distinct purpose and function. Reason can discern a thing's purpose by looking at its origin and characteristics in order to determine the end for which it exists. (ClassicNote on Aristotle's Politics)
From this rational standpoint Aristotle developed his ethical theories which are concerned with the way human life and society should be run. This relates to his idea of the 'ultimate good', which refers to the greatest virtue and happiness for society and the individual. He argues that the "ultimate good for a human being is a life lived according to virtue and in contemplation of the highest truths of the universe ... Aristotle's political views are inextricably linked to his emphasis on virtue and reason in relation to the ultimate good for a human being."
The word 'politics' comes from the Greek word politikos which means 'pertaining to the city state'; therefore, for Aristotle political science is to advance the 'collective well-being of humans' (Bullen, P) within the society or city-state. The idea of society or community as being structured towards well-being is central to Aristotle's view of Politics. In this scheme of things there is a specific order and hierarchy of elements in a society which constitutes its effective structure.
For Aristotle, using reason and the idea of natural order, women and slaves have a specific place and function in society and they are more dependent and not as naturally free as men. In other words, the foundations of the political and governmental constitution of a country are based on a natural and rational order which reflects the greatest good for the society. Politics is therefore the art of creating and maintaining this constitution.
In Aristotle's view all people are not born equal in political terms and there is a difference between men, women and slaves in the society, which is reflected in the political constitution. This view of certain people as 'natural' slaves is one which would not be accepted in our contemporary society.
While all members of the human species share a common essence, end and characteristic activity, most are defective and unable to actualize that essence, end, and characteristic activity. They are either children, female, or naturally slavish. Although, children can become adults, females and natural slaves cannot become male or naturally free. (ibid)
Aristotle bases his view of slavery on a model of the natural world and views slavery as 'good' in the sense that people who are naturally intended to be slaves are much happier in this station within the structure of the political and social constitution…
Sample Source(s) Used
Bibliography
Aristotle: Politics. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Accessed November 6, 2004. http://www.iep.utm.edu/a/aris-pol.htm#Slavery
Bullen, P. The Epitome of Aristotle's Political Theory. 1997. Accessed November 6, 2004. http://paul.bullen.com/BullenEpitome.html
ClassicNote on Aristotle's Politics. Accessed November 5, 2004. http://www.gradesaver.com/ClassicNotes/Titles/politics/summ1.html
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