Analysis Of Aristotle's Polis

The level of power sharing was different in a specific city-state. Sparta’s ruled by was oligarchy, the method by which governing was in the hands of a small unit of men. Corinth was ruled through tyranny (governance by which a tyrant took over political power by force). On the other hand, Athens developed a democratic system that allowed male citizens to share in its political power. The free inhabitants of Greek polis were offered citizenship, rich and poor alike. Male citizens were able to vote in regards to issues that concerned the government of their polis. It was expected that those who had political rights should participate in government affairs. Slaves and those born outside the polis were not given citizenship or allowed to vote. Though women had legal rights they were also not allowed to vote.

Aristotle’s thoughts on ethics conclude that all humans must have a purpose in life in order to be happy. I believe that some of the basics of his ideas still hold true today. This essay points out some of those ideas.

The Athenian polis is one that historians very often look back upon today. The Athenian polis created the rise of democracy and produced a culture that has shaped the way of modern day society. This polis has no privacy and believes that everyone in the polis is related as a family. In this family, everyone has a place, and everyone should stay in their place. Everyone has a job to do, gods to praise, and leaders to follow and believe in.

In Aristotle's Politics, he focuses much on the regimes of an oligarchy and of a democracy. Democracies exists when the free and poor, being a majority, have authority to rule, and have an equal share in the city. Oligarchies exists when the few wealthy and better born have authority and grant benefits in proportion to a person's wealth (1280a:10-30;1290a:5-10).

Aristotle is an ancient Greek philosopher who has played a part in subjects such as mathematics and ethics. As a known student of Plato, Aristotle’s knowledge on various topics immensely affected people’s philosophical views. For Aristotle, his definitions of human happiness and a good life consist of being virtuous all throughout life. Happiness comes from being an overall good person; this is “the best way to lead a life and give it meaning” (Psychology Today). According to Aristotle, happiness is a continuing achievement. “Happiness is more a question of behavior and of habit—of ‘virtue’—than of luck; a person who cultivates such behaviors and habits is able to bear his

Aristotle said that life in a properly constituted polis is the best. He said that the polis cannot be defined as citizens, because people die and can be replaced. Aristotle divides constituency into two parts. Good – monarchy, aristocracy and politeia. Bad- tyranny oligarchy democracy, because it is corrupted. Aristotle came to overvalue the idea of citizenship; life in a properly constituted polis was the best life that Greeks could aspire to.

The Greek polis cultivates the virtue of its citizens by ordering the soul through the search for knowledge in philosophy. Solon, the lawgiver of Athens, recognized the value of philosophy in the polis and “in Philosophy…chiefly esteemed the political part of morals (Solon, Plutarch’s Lives, page 108)”. He recognized that the ordered soul of the individual citizen contributes to the soul of the polis. The disintegration of the soul of the polis contributes largely to the fall of the empire. Eric Voegelin, in his book The World of The Polis states that:

The Greek polis cultivates the virtue of its citizens by ordering the soul through the search for knowledge in philosophy. Solon, the lawgiver of Athens, recognized the value of philosophy in the polis and “in Philosophy…chiefly esteemed the political part of morals (Solon, Plutarch’s Lives, page 108).” He recognized that the ordered soul of the individual citizen contributes to the soul of the polis. The disintegration of the soul of the polis begins with the individual and contributes largely to the fall of the empire. Eric Voegelin, in his book The World of The Polis states that:

Aristotle’s account of human nature is fairly simple, men are political animals and the only difference humans have from other animals is the, “ability to have reason and the ability to speak”(The Politics). He uses this to compare how nature creates men to be political animals and how it also creates the polis. The polis in Aristotle’s mind, is that the polis is there to benefit humans for the purpose of association, nature, and living the good life. The polis provides a sort of habitat to give people a proper upbringing and that we can achieve that because Aristotle has already broke down the form, power and purpose of the polis. To sum up his thinking, Aristotle thinks the purpose of the polis is to give the citizens a way to form partnerships

In order to explain the fundamentals of Aristotle's Virtue Ethics, one must acknowledge his primary motive in this study, which is to understand what it means to live well. Unlike

In consideration to Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle’s view of the great-souled man is that of an individual that represents happiness and obtains the five virtues: wisdom, justice, bravery, self-control, and the overall goodness within an individual (happiness). The magnanimous person is very complex and displays the proper virtues at the proper time, and in the proper way. In addition, the great-souled man accommodates to his surroundings where he is honorable but not boastful in his actions. Aristotle believes that it is only possible to attain happiness within a political organization because happiness represents living well without being concerned with others, they solely live for the truth and not approval.

To Aristotle, the good regimes are the ones that are set up according to the principle of common interest of the people. In the case of democracy, the rule of the poor and the majority, it is seen as the form of government that involves the selfish good. Aristotle indicated that other types of government failed to see the pay any attention to the middle class, where citizens are neither rich or arrogant, nor poor or slaves. This ideal body of government not only selves as the midpoint for oligarchy and democracy, taking the good aspects of both and eliminating the bad characteristics of each, but also represents the good regime to Aristotle. Aristotle believed that polity is the good regime because it defends the common good of the citizens of the state.

Aristotle is one of the greatest thinkers in the history of western philosophy, and is most notably known for expressing his view of happiness in Nicomachean Ethics. Aristotle develops a theory of how to live the good life and reach eudaimonia (happiness). Eudaimonia has been translated into, living a happy and virtuous life. Aristotle’s definition of the good life as the happy life, consist of balancing virtues (arête), the mean, external goods, political science, and voluntary action.

Since the beginning of the human’s existence, there have been so many great different concepts from various philosophers that have shaped the structure, knowledge and behaviors that we still exercise in our current world. Philosophy as the fundamental nature of knowledge has contributed to the development of our thoughts and the structure of our societies. Many great philosophers left the presence of their idea implanted in our world for the rest of human life. One central leader that contributed in the philosophical views of ideas, realism and morality of life was the greatest philosopher of all time “Aristotle”. This essay will focus on two of Aristotle’s major impact on today’s society. These two great essays are, “The Politics” and “The Nicomachean Ethics”. Aristotle influenced by previous work from his professor the great philosopher Plato developed ideas of moralities, virtues and ethics of how man should best live, how can we find the truth also how can we explain the world around us. Throughout history there have been many philosophers who have tried to shape the world with their philosophical concepts to make an action a universal law of morality that gives us options to choose a freely moral or legal alternative rather than another one. The concepts revealed by Aristotle’s work have inculcated the way we actually behave and apply ethics to our everyday duties that would lead us to the supreme good “Eudaimonia” ‘Human Flourishing’, happiness. All theories

The purpose of this essay is to discuss whether politics should be focused on morality with reference to the political thinkers, Aristotle and Plato. Aristotle and Plato have two fundamentally differing views on politics and how it links to morality. Morality to Aristotle and Plato will be analysed through their version of how politics utensils morality to carry out legislation or create a universal manner carried out by the citizens. To achieve this, this essay will examine the following points, Human nature and human soul. This essay will argue how the human nature and human soul differ on its viewpoint of justice and morality and how it should be implemented into political matters.