Aristotle's Endorsement of Polity as the Best Possible for Most States
Polity is defined as a from of Government or type of constitution,
such as a democratic polity. Aristotle uses ‘polity’ in two forms, the
name for a constitution of any kind, and as the name of a specific
polity. ‘Polity’ is the form of Government under which all citizens
rule and are ruled in turn. The main principle of polity is that all
citizens have a share of political power, and that they should all be
active in ruling the state. In this essay I will discuss Aristotle’s
endorsement of ‘polity’ as the ‘best possible for most states.’
Aristotle regards the politeia (constitution) as a means of organising
people that are living within a state. He regards politês (citizens)
as people who participate in the legal, political, and administrative
judgement and authority of the state. Although there are other people
living within the state, it is only citizens that are able to
participate in the administration of the state. Aristotle believes
that the state is more than a means to providing a living, but is the
very thing that makes life meaningful. The state should encourage
participation in civic associations, religion and culture. The role of
the state is to bring virtue to its citizens.
Aristotle distinguishes between the classes in the state, and who is
best fit to rule. He believes that a coalition of the rich and the
poor in society would best understand the whole society, and would
therefore be good to rule; that the poor should perform deliberative
and judicial functions but not allowed to hold office. In terms of
types of ‘polity’ this is a mixture of o...
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...s within the
state. Other residents of the state, such as women, manual labourers
and slaves are in the state for the good of the citizens and are not
taken into consideration.
Aristotle does not claim that Polity is the ideal form of
constitution, he believed it was best because by the citizens sharing
the power, they were all represented in Government and this meant that
there was less chance of corruption. Polity is a form of constitution
that is realistically attainable by most states.
Bibliography
· Lockyer, A. (1988) ‘Aristotle: The Politics’, in M. Forsyth and M.
Keens-Soper, eds. The Political Classics. Oxford: Oxford University
Press
· W.F. Hardie Aristotle’s Ethical Theory (1968)
· The Internet Encyclopaedia of Philosophy. Aristotle: Politics
http://www.iep.utm.edu/a/aris-pol.htm#SH9c
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