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Political Science → Aristotle
Aristotle (384 – 322 BC)
Born in Stagira – Macedonia, Aristotle led a philosophy based on constitutionalism and rule of law. Plato came closer to democracy in the Laws; this thing surely influenced Aristotle. He left Plato’s academy at the age of 35 and was summoned by Philip of Macedonia to instruct Alexander. He returned to Athens when the city had become Macedonian protectorate. He founded the school Lyceum. After Alexander’s death, Aristotle was persecuted for his connection with the Macedonian invaders. He left for Chalcis.
Following are recorded Aristotle’s ideas of society and state:
Aristotle was first known political scientist. He agreed with concept of ideal state but being a practical person, he preferred the best practicable state. He preferred state over anarchy and chaos. He gave merit to tradition and custom.
He laid stress on man’s sociability which leads him to use reason, communicate, establish state; outside the state man is meaningless fragment. State like a seed is more natural than precedent individual, family or village. In a state community people are held more by fellowship and communal sense than by laws. Individualism is antidote to state.
Aristotle regards struggle to make ideal state as waste of time. Type of state constitution depends on kind and quality of the states. The order of desirability of state by Aristotle is: monarchy, aristocracy and polity/moderate democracy. The classification is same as given by Plato in the Statesman. No perfect men thus no philosopher kings. He justifies slavery on the basis of superior and inferior.
Favouring once again the best practicable state, Aristotle proposes the combination of democratic and oligarchic principles. He says that every society has two factors: quality and quantity. The first one represents wealth, social position and education – the oligarch force. The second one is number of masses – the democratic force. Balance between two forces makes the best state otherwise anarchy. He gives this idea for his state called Polity.
He recognizes class difference. Unlike Aristotle, he proposes redistribution of property to fill the gap between the rich and the poor. The Middle Class he thinks is rational which will not interfere with administrative affairs. This class will remain busy in daily pursuits. According to him, stability in polity is maintained by the good will of a sizable powerful community of citizens who have vested interest in government conduct and they immune the appeals of those who demand change. Poor as the state may be, it’s better than anarchy because in it develops morality, progress and good life.
He suggests several steps to protect the peace of polity: to discourage lawlessness, to protect property of rich in democracy and welfare of the poor in oligarchy. There will remain conflict in individual desire and public good.
Aristotle criticized Plato’s ideal state. He says communism of family will lead to diffusion of responsibility not unity. Communism of property is not possible because some men would work more and deserve more. Private property will bring satisfaction. He discourages usury. He criticizes Plato’s idea of rule of the elite rather than the rule of law.