Aristotle

Aristotle

Politics

Aristotle in his book politics, argues that the political association is the highest form of

human association , and making all his conclusions based on the assumption that Ð''polis' is the

best and only sensible political system. He further adds that political association is the most

sovereign and aims at the highest good

Politics is largely an attempt to determine or rather prove that political association is the best

suited way for securing the happiness of its members or as called in Ð''politics' the citizens .The

interest of the polis and its citizens were seen to be the same since both the city and man aimed

for happiness as the ultimate goal. According to Aristotle, life has no existence outside the

confines of the city and that it is not the city that exists to serve the needs of the individual but is

a mere part and the city is more important than the individual

Aristotle's admiration of the social system in a polis shows his support to the slavery.

The polis consisted of citizens which men were born to citizen parent's women children and

slaves. Men were considered to be the only rational creation and had to engage and contribute in

the political association of the city, while slaves were used for work. Aristotle's above argument

had some major weakness and flaws in it, he address the salves as non-rational, and it's in there

best interest to serve there masters, who would give them a rational vision. The main drawback

with this argument is the irrational slave has to have some kind of rationality to judge that his

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master is right for him and to follow and obey those orders. If those certain of rationality exist in

these slaves then they are not "natural slaves" and should not be enslaved .

Aristotle's belief that a man can become fully human if he engages in the political

association of the city , gives the state full authority over an individuals freedom.

According to his view an individual could not have any true rational needs or interest outside the

confines of the state, as the result it would be absurd to even desire any kind of individual

freedom in opposition to the state. Aristotle does not draw a line, which the state cannot cross

over an individuals privacy or freedom. A central question in modern day philosophy, is the

extent to which a state can impose itself on the freedom of an individual. As a result it would be

absurd to desire any kind of individual freedom in opposition to the state

A little further down in the book Aristotle argues and puts forward his idea that a new

system of government is required as all the proposed theories and existing governments were not

perfect. Before putting his theory on the table, Aristotle reviews and criticizes the existing

theories and government using there flaws and shortcomings as evidence supporting his case. His

second book concentrates on these flaws, discussing them in further details. He attacks all

theorists proposing abolishment of private property for individuals. Aristotle defends private

property by pointing out that greed and selfishness cannot be checked by checking on private

property but these vices result from human wickedness. Abolishing private property does not

help