Aristotle's View On Human Nature Essay

The lion is always considered the head of his clan but is it because he is the strongest, the most vibrant, or because his roar is the loudest? What causes this desire to dominate someone else? People want to feel superior because they are convinced that it is human nature to become superior. While Aristotle describes the idea of human nature as consisting of a natural pattern of wanting to dominate other people, often to the point of slavery, Douglass believes in the idea of education leading to people wanting to dominate other people, proving that it is a social force that affects peoples’ nature. Men are looked upon as individuals who dominate everything. White men are the common oppressors of both women and slaves. White women believe themselves to be superior to slaves and as equal as men. These groups believe the reason to their sense of superiority is human nature. But, this is not actually the case; in reality, everyone is equal.

Aristotle believes that the basis of the idea of human

nature is that people dominate each other because they are born that way. In “Politics”, he states “ruling and being ruled are not only necessary, they are also beneficial, and some things are distinguished right from birth, some suited to rule and others to being ruled” (Aristotle 7). This idea further extends to the entitlement of who gets to rule between a man, a woman, or a slave. However, according to Aristotle, even if the truth may be misguiding, it is evident to understand that people are not people unless there is this sense of domination within them. Aristotle further illustrates why there should be a ruler and someone to be ruled: “There are many kinds of rulers and ruled, and the better the ruled are, the better the rule over them is” (7). Therefore, under this natural pattern it is easy to detect that a man is obviously the dominant person within a relationship between him and his spouse because there is this idea that has developed about men being intellectually smarter and physically stronger compared to his wife. The reason why slaves are naturally meant to be ruled is because they are missing the deliberative part of the soul. This demonstrates why they should be ruled. On the contrary, according to Aristotle, women are fortunate since they possess this crucial virtue but lack the authority to use it. Ultimately, men, under the idea of human nature, are individuals who are superior compared to his spouse and or chattel.
The purpose of subjugating people is sought for the awareness as to who is the 'alpha' or who contains more power over individuals. Fredrick Douglass establishes an understanding of one's rights and freedoms, which can be dominated, in "Narrative of the Life of an American Slave" and "The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro." These texts effectively demonstrate how groups of people have been deprived of their natural rights and freedom while serving their nation, while oppressing women and slaves. According to Douglass in "Narrative of the Life of an American Slave," he shows how a sweet woman slaveholder is revolutionized after witnessing her husband treat slaves and then degrades the slaves of almost all rights. Douglass describes this as "That cheerful eye, under the influence of slavery, soon became red with rage; that voice, made of sweet accord, changed to one harsh and horrid discord; and that angelic face gave place to that of a demon (57-8)." Therefore, slavery changes people into a despicable person and the slaveholder takes away the rights and freedom of these slaves. Furthermore, Douglass mentions how white children believed that he, a slave, would procure his rights in the future. Consequently, the parents are the problem because they infuse the ideas of how to control their ‘property’; these kids represent how we are all equal since they are oblivious as to who is the dominant race. According to Douglas in "The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro" he imposes a question as to what to an American slave is the Fourth of July. Douglass answers, "The gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim [...] your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless." Basically, the American slaves, including Douglass, believe that the 'whites' are glorifying this day and are being mocked since they still do not have the prerogative to do what they want and so they do not consist of the equivalent freedom and right as to 'whites'.
Moreover, Stanton also describes how her rights and freedoms have been deprived by, of course, men, in "The Declaration of Sentiments, Seneca Falls Conference." Stanton uses the model of the U.S. Declaration of Independence to bolster her position in demanding the rights of women within society. She states, "She is compelled to promise obedience to her husband, he becoming, to all intents and purposes, her master - the law giving him power to deprive her of her liberty, and to administer chastisement." Evidently, this quote implies that women are inferior to men and yet superior to a slave. In addition, women do not have equivalent rights and liberties as those of men, but have more freedom and rights to those of slaves. In conclusion, different groups of people maintain the right to do as they please and have the power to act, speak, or think as they want without restraints. Lincoln gives a better understanding by questioning this idea.
According to Lincoln, in “Fragment on Slavery,” he questions why people believe they are superior to other individuals and groups. He understands that slavery has created rigid social classes and he argues as to what distinguishes people as having more power than the other, whether in skin completion or intellectual or right to enslave. Who can be superior on these aspects? This revolutionizes the way people see individuals and as to how one can identify himself greater than someone else. Overall, under the Declaration of Independence, all men are created equal. Therefore, people are equal and should understand that no matter how strong someone is or how smart we all still maintain our rights and also our freedom.
As an individual looks around, they find themselves with a demographic of diverse people in whom they see themselves as inferior to some and superior to others.

This idea was established before 500 B. C., and still continues to affect people in today's society. An example is when people work in the same occupation; men earn a higher wage compared to women. In addition, white people earn a higher wage compared to other races. Under the Declaration of Independence, everyone is entitled to equal rights. However, people are morally incorrect when believing that men should have certain rights such as to live and not have to fight for their right to bodily integrity, have the right to not be subjected to sexism in high profile jobs, right to drink without judgement being passed on them, right to not get pregnant, and right to choose any career they want. Everyone maintains the right to do as they please and have the power to act, speak, or think as they want without

restraints.