Aristotle's Politics Study Guide

Aristotle's Politics Summary

The city is a political partnership that comes into being for purposes of self-sufficiency but exists primarily for the sake of living well. Man is by nature a political animal, because he has the ability to communicate and to dialogue and about justice and the good. The city is prior to the individual.

Natural slaves are those who perceive reason but do not have it. It is mutually beneficial that such people be ruled. There are also slaves according to the law, who may or may not be natural slaves. Mastery is rule over slaves, but political rule is rule over free and equal persons.

Holding women, children and property in common as Plato suggests in the Republic is not beneficial to the city. Holding property in common will not reduce…

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Posted By kimberly b #228871 at Feb 06, 2012 1:16 PM

What according to aristotle's theory would be the moral thing for the mayor to do in this case?

Imagine a small town occupied by enemy forces during a war. The resistance has been active in this town, and the leader of the occupying troops calls all of the townspeople together and announces that all men between the ages of 15 and 65 are to be executed. In response to the pleas of the citizenry, he modifies his order and announces that he will permit most of the men to live on condition that the mayor choose three ment from the town's population and kill htme himself, publicly as an example to the others.

Aristotle's Politics | Answers: 2

Posted By hailey p #228523 at Feb 04, 2012 11:28 AM

Who or what is te supreme power in the state

Focus questons, book 3

Aristotle's Politics | Answers: 2

Posted By oneida g #204425 at Oct 06, 2011 11:19 AM

Why are human communities, i.e. political societies/the polis formed?

Aristotle's Politics | Answers: 1