Aristotle (385-323 BC)

(385 – 323 ई. .)

Introduction ( )

- Aristotle, the Father of Political Science( ) is known as the

greatest disciple of Plato as well as the greatest critique.
- He was the first pragmatic thinker who based his conclusions on data, facts and
figures and imparted a scientific outlook to the study of the subject.
- He is also known as the Father of Comparative Politics( ).

Influences on Aristotle ( )

Early life ( )
- Aristotle was greatly influenced by his father Nichomachus, who was a physician to
the King of Macedon. Therefore from the very beginning, Aristotle developed an
analytical and scientific approach to the problem.
- His repeated comparison of the state and the organism and the individuals with the
organs is mainly due to his scientific approach.

Impact of Plato ( )
- “Aristotle is the greatest of all the Platonists.”
- Plato’s influence on Aristotle is evident in following ideas: Man is by nature social
being and must live an associated life. Society is an integral part of man’s life.
- Democracy is not an ideal form of government.
- State exists for the moral perfection of the individuals.
- No contradiction between the individual and the state.
- Slavery is essential so that citizens can concentrate on mental work.

Differences between Plato and Aristotle( ):

- Plato built a philosophy from general to particular (deductive); Aristotle proposed a
philosophy of particular to general (inductive).
State ( )
- Aristotle criticized Plato’s state as an artificial creation, whereas for Aristotle state is
a natural organization( ), result of growth and
organization.
Notion of Justice ( )
 - Aristotle found justice more in the realms of enjoying ones rights rather than
performing ones duties. Justice is doing activity virtue and not doing things in
accordance with one’s nature.
Classes of Plato
- Aristotle did not support classification of citizens into three classes of , specially the
guardian class which exclusively held the power of ruling.
- Absence of circulation between classes excludes those men who may be ambitious
and wise, but just because they do not belong to the right class could not hold any
type of political power.
- Aristotle does not agree with Plato’s notion of communism of wives, family,
property. He states the importance of the institution of family. According to him,
abolition of this institution will lead to disharmony.
Philosophical Rule( )-
- Plato, in Republic did not consider Laws important for the rule, in his opinion where
rulers were virtuous, there was no need of laws. Aristotle criticized it and said that,
rule of law is better than rule by any men in order to prevent any kind of
arbitrariness.
- Plato realized the utility of Laws in his book the Laws.
Communism of Wives and Property ( )
- According to Aristotle, to deprive the guardian class of their wives, family and
property, is like punishing them to be deprived of intrinsic love and affinity with
fellow humans.
- Sabine says- “A family is one thing and the state is something different, and it is
better that one should no try to age another.”

Works of Aristotle( )-
- Nichomachean Ethics (350 BC) – here Aristotle states that human beings can be
happy only if they fulfill their basic function i.e. fulfill the capacities of their human
nature in an excellent way.
- Metaphysics (350 BC) – In this, Aristotle rejects Plato’s theory of forms.
- Politics (350 BC) – Politics is the most influential and profound work of Aristotle. He
describes the role that politics and political community must play in bringing about a
virtuous life of the citizens. He defines ‘polis’ or city as a political association.
- Physics
- Rhetoric’s
- On the Soul
- Eudemian Ethics

Major themes of Aristotle’s political thought:

Theory of State ( )
 - According to Aristotle, Man is political by nature. Nature has not made man self-
sufficient. Man cannot fulfill his needs on his own. We cannot have a fulfilled life
without the institution of state. Thus it is the destiny of the man to be a member of
the political community.
- State is a Natural organization. It has grown from:
Man’s nature Families Village State
- State is association of all association and is self-sufficing.
- “State is Prior to the Individual”(“ , ”) To live without a
state, we need to possess super human qualities of beast or god but for other
reasons, State is necessary. Since, state fulfills the highest of our needs; it is highest
of all associations.
- State is like a Human Organism, which has its own parts i.e. individual. As there is no
importance of separated part of body from the whole, similarly an individual
separated from state has no meaning.
- According to Aristotle, state is not one family but is a family of families. State is
‘Unity in Diversity’.
- State must be ruled by Law.

Theory of Constitution ( )
- Aristotle uses constitution, state and government interchangeably.
- He defined a constitution not just as a form of government or a set of norms, but as
way of life, and it determine the moral character of State.
- Types of constitution: After studying 158 constitutions, Aristotle gave the following
classification

Type of government Number of Ruling class Pervert or corrupt form

Monarchy(Philosopher king) One Tyranny
Aristocracy Few (Rich) Oligarchy
Polity (Middle class) Many Democracy
- According to Aristotle, Monarchy is the best form of government but not a practical
one.
- Polity is the Rule of middle class with average property and average wisdom.
- According to Aristotle, Polity is the golden mean between Oligarchy and Democracy.
Why Polity is most suitable?
- Polity is a Constitutional Government.
- It has moderate form of Democracy.
- It’s neither the rule by majority, nor by minority.
- Its rule by middle class. A class which constituted the mean in the social structure,
not only balancing oligarchic and democratic elements, but also mixing them in right
proportion.
- It will ensure stability because middle class is the largest section of the society.
- It’s a government by Quality as well as by Quantity.
- The Polity took into account freedom, wealth, culture, noble birth, and numerical
superiority.
 - It symbolizes the principle of Mean or moderation or the middle-way principles of
practical Politics.
- Government and ruler would be chosen by a combination of lot (elections, property
qualifications and relative merit).

Theory of Citizenship ( )
- Aristotle equates citizenship with Duty.
- According to him, citizenship means duty to participate in the affairs of the state.
- Who are citizens? Only adult males belonging to the propertied class.
- What is the duty of the citizens? Participate in the law making process.
- Who are not citizens? Why?
- Women – women are absorbed in the household work and hence cannot afford time
to participate in the affairs of the state.
- Old persons – physical barrier.
- Children - not matured enough.
- Slave – lack of reason.

Theory of Justice ( )
Theory of Slavery ( )

- Aristotle justifies Slavery, and believes it is natural and useful and necessary.
- Aristotle looks at slavery from a functional point of view.
- Aristotle called slaves as sub-humans, barbarians and incomplete.
- He classifies slaves into two types: Slave by law – prisoners of war and Slave by
Nature
- Who are slaves by nature?
Those who do not have the capacity to take decisions and those who cannot stand
to the consequences of the decision taken.
- His theory of slavery is about ‘slaves by nature’. According to him, nature has made
two types of persons:
i. Those who are mentally strong.
ii. Those who are physically strong.
- Those who are mentally strong ought to be Rulers and those who are physically
strong ought to be producer or slave.
- Qualities of a ruling class: Reason, Courage
- Aristotle states that the institution of slavery is useful for slaves. While staying in the
company of a good master, slave gets an opportunity to develop virtue.
- Aristotle suggests that the slave ought to be treated well by the masters. And if he
develops the virtue he must be liberated by the master.
- Aristotle also explains the benefits of the institution of slavery for political and
economic system.
- According to Aristotle, since slaves are physically strong and can work for long hours.
Masters therefore get time for quality participation in the affairs of the state.
- Aristotle supports a Meritocratic society.

Theory of Property ( )
- Aristotle while stating his theory of Property criticizes Plato’s communism of
Property.
- According to him, property is a source of many virtues. Hence he does not support
abolishing the institution of private property. At the same time Aristotle is aware of
the negative aspects of property and therefore gives suggestions to deal with them.
- Aristotle classifies property into two types:
i. Animate (Slaves)
ii. Inanimate (Material holdings)

- He talks about three systems of property:

a. Common ownership, common use – he rejects this system
b. Common ownership, individual use – he rejects this system
c. Individual ownership, common use – he supports this system
- He talks about the benefits of individual ownership: It provides Motivation, Self-
respect, Productivity.
 - Common use – since the institution of private property may create inequalities
among people. Aristotle suggests that people must contribute part of their income
to the state. The state can take care of the poor with this income.
- Therefore Aristotle was against amassing excessive wealth.

Theory of Revolution ( )
- According to Aristotle, any change, big or small, peaceful or violent is revolution.
- Aristotle is a conservative (status quo) and is apprehensive about changes. He
prefers stability over change.
- General causes of revolution:
i. Common cause is the feeling of Inequality.
ii. Corruption among ruling class
iii. Too much influx of foreigners
- Solutions to curb revolution:
i. Ensuring that people do not get the feeling of injustice
ii. Keeping a check on corruption
iii. Keeping a check on movements inside and outside the state
iv. Ensuring that the social balance does not get disturbed.

Quotes by Aristotle ( )

- Theory equality :“It is unjust to treat equals unequally; It is equally unjust to treat
unequal equally”.
- “Man is by nature a political animal”.
- “Authority of statesman is different from the authority of master.”- polity
- “State comes into existence for the sake of life and continues for the sake of good
life.”
- “State is the highest of all associations.”
- “One who can live without state is either a beast or god but he can’t be a man.”
- “Polity is the best practicable form of government.”
- “Law is a reason without passion.”