Aristotle 's Views On Politics

Citizenship in Athens and Rome has similarities and differences. Being a citizen is being a native or naturalized member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government. Being a citizen meant different things in each empire. The relationship between the citizen and their nation varied from their system of citizenship. Rome had a better system of citizenship because they were more open to who they allowed citizenship, they gave people they conquered citizenship, and personal grudges, judgements about others/topics would not affect the Empire.

Pericles takes time to laud democracy as a form of government. He believes the division of political power equally amongst citizens inevitably leads to laws that benefit the Athenian people as a whole. This in turn increase overall equality, and by extension, social mobility. Such a government is a just government in the eyes of Pericles, and thus, a shining example of Athenian superiority. “[Athens’] administration favors the many instead of the few; this is why it is called a democracy. If we look to the laws, they afford equal justice to all in their private differences; if no social standing, advancement in public life falls to reputation for capacity, class considerations not being allowed to interfere with merit; nor again does poverty bar the way, if a man is able to serve the state, he is not hindered by the obscurity of his condition.” (2.37.1).

The Greek polis in a multitude of ways started the idea of the Greek citizenship. The polis was a complex hierarchy, put around the idea of citizenship to build a society greater than every civilization that lived. However the governmental functions were reserved to a small group nevertheless the equation of the polis with the entire citizen body distinguishes itself from other societies. We are made aware of the fact that one of the singular traits of the polis was that of citizenry and not being subjects. If by any chance the citizens became subjects then that community would cease to be a polis ( pgs 66-68 ).

The most distinctive feature of Greek political culture lay in the extent of popular participation in political life that occurred within the city-states. This participation was based on the unique ideas of “citizenship,” of free people running the affairs of state, and of equality for all citizens before the law. Political participation in Greek city-states was much wider than in Persia, but it varied considerably between city-states and over time. Early in Greek history, only the wealthy and wellborn had the rights of full citizenship, but middle- and lower-class men gradually obtained these rights in some city-states.

The simple answer to the question is Socrates a good citizen? is ‘no’. A good citizen is a member of society that promotes the common good, and does not perform actions that are harmful to their community. These citizens act in a way that betters their community. Socrates appears as an individualist who corrupts the youth and speaks against the gods. Generally, a good citizen is liked by his community, but Socrates faces criticisms and dislike. Socrates fails to advocate for a better community and he acts in his own benefit. Through his process of enlightenment Socrates criticizes the gods, teaches the youth and displays progressive ideas.

Athenian citizen makes more contribution to government rather than Spartans. The Athenian government allows citizen to be a member of the government except for the military position, as its stated on an article that ” each citizen can be voted for each legislation”(Echos in the past, page, print). Which signify that being in the government position means having the capability and not the wealth. In the athenian

By looking at the readings of Machiavelli, Hobbes, and Locke, there are a few distinctions between how the modern thinkers viewed politics versus the way the ancient thinkers believed politics should be. There are many topics both modern and ancient thinkers discuss in their writings, such as the purpose of politics, the science of politics, human nature, as well as the ideal regime. By doing so, these thinkers’ views on political topics such as these illuminate how they thought politics should work and who should be able to participate in the activity of politics.

The wise oligarch notes the helpfulness and power of the poor, yet the Athenian government provides the poor with little freedom of society. Even when Athens has a lower population than Rome, Athens drastically lack variety in the people they elect or give power to. Judging by Rome’s guidelines and statistics, one of the Roman citizenship system’s best qualities are the wide distribution of power in the common people. A content plebian population results in a quiet and prosperous

While Western civilization has obtained many ideas from the culture of Homer’s time, what we value in a citizen is different then the people of that time period. Because civilizations in Ancient Greece were more militaristic and vulnerable to attacks than societies of today, they relied on characteristics that would protect and keep their people safe. A few of the main attributes that were most respected in a citizen included military might, cleverness, physical strength, and devotion to the gods.

He said, “Our public men have, besides politics, their private affairs to attend to, and our ordinary citizens, though occupied with pursuits of industry, are still fair judges of public matters.” (Pericles, Funeral Oration) In this quote, he explains the duality of a citizen; that he exists both publically and privately. Furthermore, an exemplary Athenian citizen primarily concerns himself with “public matters,” or those which deal with the polis, or city

Why should not a loyal citizen use his primary talent for the benefit of the state? He argues that if he had gone into political life he would have long since “perished.” The struggle for the right in his mind required “a private station and not a public one.” He once held the office of senator and discovered that his efforts at promoting justice were futile and in fact on one occasion nearly cost him his life. He did not fear death, he explains, but realized that neither he “nor any other man” could effectively fight for the right in a political position. He could do Athens the greatest good in a private effort to inquire into virtue and wisdom. The state would profit most from citizens schooled in this sort of inquiry. He closes his defense by leaving the decision to the jury and to

Athenian democracy ensures that a citizen in a society acts according to what society deems appropriate rather than by an individual's assumptions of what is acceptable. Athens as a whole stresses the importance of an active citizen whose life is intertwined with the government. In essence, an Athenian citizen can participate in the decision making of the state and will be enthusiastic in carrying out policies that pass in the assembly. Pericles, an Athenian statesman, makes it clear when he says that "each individual is interested not only in his own affairs but in the affairs of the state as well" (p.147 Thucydides). Socrates, a Greek philosopher, is a firm believer in examining one's actions in life and ensuring that a morally righteous

Christ also drew upon the work of other scholars to shed a new light on a subject matter that has previously been discussed in other studies. Previous works acknowledged bad citizenship in Athenian democracy but “focused more on the institutions and ideologies that made democracy work” (Christ, 5). The scholars that have written on bad citizenship often look at the legal measures used to enforce civic obligations and do not go in-depth on the social aspect of bad citizenship. Athenians that chose to evade their civic duties were often brought before a court and charged

Plato and Aristotle are philosophers that both have an idea of an ideal state but they have their differences. While there are benefits to each of their views on politics and society, there are also many negative things about their views. Some of their negative views were realistic at one point in time but few are the same in today 's society. Although I don 't fully agree with either philosopher, I would have to side with Aristotle overall.

I will now start with the analysis of the relevance in an ideal state of ruling and being ruled. Aristotle’s view on this is clear, he says that citizens should rule and be ruled in turn. He claims that those who rule and those who obey are the same. At this level, therefore, Aristotle seems to praise equality. He says: