Ideas from 'Politics' by Aristotle [332 BCE], by Theme Structure
[found in 'Politics' by Aristotle (ed/tr Reeve,C.D.C.) [Hackett 2017,978-1-62466-557-8]].
green numbers give full details |
back to texts
|
expand these ideas
1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 5. Aims of Philosophy / a. Philosophy as worldly
|
2845
|
Free and great-souled men do not keep asking "what is the use of it?"
|
1. Philosophy / F. Analytic Philosophy / 1. Nature of Analysis
|
22521
|
Our method of inquiry is to examine the smallest parts that make up the whole
|
2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 2. Logos
|
1570
|
Human beings, alone of the animals, have logos
|
2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 4. Aims of Reason
|
1574
|
Reasoning distinguishes what is beneficial, and hence what is right
|
2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 7. Status of Reason
|
2801
|
Intelligence which looks ahead is a natural master, while bodily strength is a natural slave
|
2. Reason / F. Fallacies / 3. Question Begging
|
22529
|
Men are natural leaders (apart from the unnatural ones)
|
2. Reason / F. Fallacies / 5. Fallacy of Composition
|
22571
|
'If each is small, so too are all' is in one way false, for the whole composed of all is not small
|
9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 8. Parts of Objects / c. Wholes from parts
|
22525
|
The whole is prior to its parts, because parts are defined by their role
|
11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 2. Understanding
|
22587
|
Understanding is the aim of our nature
|
14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / g. Causal explanations
|
22522
|
To grasp something, trace it back to its natural origins
|
14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / k. Explanations by essence
|
22524
|
The nature of each thing is its mature state
|
16. Persons / B. Nature of the Self / 4. Presupposition of Self
|
22528
|
The nature of all animate things is to have one part which rules it
|
19. Language / F. Communication / 1. Rhetoric
|
22570
|
Rhetoric now enables good speakers to become popular leaders
|
20. Action / B. Preliminaries of Action / 2. Willed Action / d. Weakness of will
|
22574
|
A community can lack self-control
|
21. Aesthetics / A. Aesthetic Experience / 5. Natural Beauty
|
2837
|
Nothing contrary to nature is beautiful
|
21. Aesthetics / C. Artistic Issues / 5. Objectivism in Art
|
2824
|
The collective judgement of many people on art is better than that of an individual
|
21. Aesthetics / C. Artistic Issues / 7. Art and Morality
|
2846
|
Music can mould the character to be virtuous (just as gymnastics trains the body)
|
22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / j. Ethics by convention
|
2807
|
Some say slavery is unnatural and created by convention, and is therefore forced, and unjust
|
22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / g. Love
|
22582
|
Spirit [thumos] is the capacity by which we love
|
22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / i. Self-interest
|
2810
|
Selfishness is wrong not because it is self-love, but because it is excessive
|
22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 1. Goodness / g. Consequentialism
|
22555
|
The function of good men is to confer benefits
|
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / c. Motivation for virtue
|
22557
|
Virtuous people are like the citizens of the best city
|
|
2841
|
People become good because of nature, habit and reason
|
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / f. The Mean
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / h. Right feelings
|
22590
|
Virtue is concerned with correct feelings
|
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / b. Temperance
|
2813
|
It is quite possible to live a moderate life and yet be miserable
|
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / c. Justice
|
22553
|
Justice is a virtue of communities
|
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 4. External Goods / c. Wealth
|
22561
|
The rich are seen as noble, because they don't need to commit crimes
|
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 4. External Goods / d. Friendship
|
2808
|
Master and slave can have friendship through common interests
|
24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 1. A People / a. Human distinctiveness
|
2803
|
Man is by nature a political animal
|
|
2820
|
People want to live together, even when they don't want mutual help
|
|
22586
|
Only humans have reason
|
24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 1. A People / c. A unified people
|
22584
|
A community should all share to some extent in something like land or food
|
|
22535
|
Friendship is the best good for cities, because it reduces factions
|
|
2805
|
A community must share a common view of good and justice
|
|
22526
|
People who are anti-social or wholly self-sufficient are no part of a city
|
|
22523
|
The community (of villages) becomes a city when it is totally self-sufficient
|
|
22532
|
A city can't become entirely one, because its very nature is to be a multitude
|
24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 2. Population / b. State population
|
22581
|
The size of a city is decided by the maximum self-sufficient community that can be surveyed
|
24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 1. Purpose of a State
|
22548
|
A city aims at living well
|
|
22577
|
What is the best life for everyone, and is that a communal or an individual problem?
|
|
22578
|
The happiest city is the one that acts most nobly
|
|
22579
|
The same four cardinal virtues which apply to individuals also apply to a city
|
|
2431
|
Every state is an association formed for some good purpose
|
24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 2. State Legitimacy / d. General will
|
2832
|
The state aims to consist as far as possible of those who are like and equal
|
24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 3. Constitutions
|
2835
|
Any constitution can be made to last for a day or two
|
|
22566
|
The greed of the rich is more destructive than the greed of the people
|
|
22580
|
The best constitution enables everyone to live the best life
|
|
22546
|
A city is a community of free people, and the constitution should aim at the common advantage
|
|
2821
|
The six constitutions are monarchy/tyranny, aristocracy/oligarchy, and polity/democracy
|
|
22558
|
Constitutions specify distribution of offices, the authorities, and the community's aim
|
|
2973
|
We must decide the most desirable human life before designing a constitution
|
24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 4. Citizenship
|
22563
|
The middle classes are neither ambitious nor anarchic, which is good
|
|
2818
|
The virtues of a good citizen are relative to a particular constitution
|
|
22545
|
A person can be an excellent citizen without being an excellent man
|
|
22544
|
A citizen is someone who is allowed to hold official posts in a city
|
24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 2. Leaders / b. Monarchy
|
22541
|
Kings should be selected according to character
|
24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 2. Leaders / d. Elites
|
22552
|
The rich can claim to rule, because of land ownership, and being more trustworthy
|
|
2819
|
The only virtue special to a ruler is practical wisdom
|
|
22583
|
The guardians should not be harsh to strangers, as no one should behave like that
|
|
22542
|
People who buy public office will probably expect to profit from it
|
24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 3. Government / c. Executive
|
22539
|
Election of officials by the elected is dangerous, because factions can control it
|
|
22543
|
In large communities it is better if more people participate in the offices
|
|
22572
|
Officers should like the constitution, be capable, and have appropriate virtues and justice
|
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / a. Nature of democracy
|
2823
|
The many may add up to something good, even if they are inferior as individuals
|
|
22567
|
Democracy arises when people who are given equal freedom assume unconditional equality
|
|
2826
|
Like water, large numbers of people are harder to corrupt than a few
|
|
22560
|
Popular leaders only arise in democracies that are not in accord with the law
|
|
22562
|
Choosing officials by lot is democratic
|
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / d. Representative democracy
|
22533
|
If the people are equal in nature, then they should all share in ruling
|
|
2817
|
It is wrong that a worthy officer of state should seek the office
|
|
22576
|
No office is permanent in a democracy
|
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / e. Democratic minorities
|
22549
|
In many cases, the claim that the majority is superior would apply equally to wild beasts
|
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / f. Against democracy
|
22575
|
Ultimate democracy is tyranny
|
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / e. Liberal community
|
22531
|
We aim to understand the best possible community for free people
|
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 7. Communitarianism / a. Communitarianism
|
22585
|
Look at all of the citizens before judging a city to be happy
|
|
22565
|
The best communities rely on a large and strong middle class
|
|
22589
|
Citizens do not just own themselves, but are also parts of the city
|
|
22564
|
Community is based on friends, who are equal and similar, and share things
|
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 8. Socialism
|
22534
|
People care less about what is communal, and more about what is their own
|
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 9. Communism
|
22538
|
Owning and sharing property communally increases disagreements
|
|
22536
|
There could be private land and public crops, or public land and private crops, or both public
|
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 12. Feminism
|
22530
|
Both women and children should be educated, as this contributes to a city's excellence
|
25. Social Practice / A. Freedoms / 1. Slavery
|
21358
|
Natural slaves are those naturally belonging to another, or who can manage no more than labouring
|
25. Social Practice / A. Freedoms / 6. Political freedom
|
20092
|
One principle of liberty is to take turns ruling and being ruled
|
25. Social Practice / B. Equalities / 1. Grounds of equality
|
2833
|
Equality is obviously there to help people who do not get priority in the constitution
|
|
2834
|
It is always the weak who want justice and equality, not the strong
|
|
2830
|
We can claim an equal right to aristocratic virtue, as well as to wealth or freedom
|
25. Social Practice / B. Equalities / 2. Political equality
|
22568
|
Faction is for inferiors to be equal, and equals to become superior
|
|
22550
|
It is dreadful to neither give a share nor receive a share
|
|
22569
|
The Heraeans replaced election with lot, to thwart campaigning
|
25. Social Practice / B. Equalities / 4. Economic equality
|
2814
|
Phaleas proposed equality of property, provided there is equality of education
|
|
22540
|
Wealth could be quickly leveled by only the rich giving marriage dowries
|
25. Social Practice / C. Rights / 1. Basis of Rights
|
2828
|
Law is intelligence without appetite
|
25. Social Practice / C. Rights / 4. Property rights
|
22537
|
Property should be owned privately, but used communally
|
25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 1. Basis of justice
|
22573
|
The virtue of justice may be relative to a particular constitution
|
|
2825
|
The good is obviously justice, which benefits the whole community, and involves equality in some sense
|
|
22527
|
Justice is the order in a political community
|
|
22547
|
Justice is equality for equals, and inequality for unequals
|
25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 2. The Law / a. Legal system
|
2806
|
Man is the worst of all animals when divorced from law and justice
|
|
2816
|
If it is easy to change the laws, that makes them weaker
|
|
22556
|
Laws that match people's habits are more effective than mere written rules
|
25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 2. The Law / b. Rule of law
|
22554
|
It is said that we should not stick strictly to written law, as it is too vague
|
|
22551
|
Correct law should be in control, with rulers only deciding uncertain issues
|
|
2827
|
It is preferable that law should rule rather than any single citizen
|
25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 2. Religion in Society
|
2840
|
The whole state should pay for the worship of the gods
|
25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 5. Education / a. Aims of education
|
2811
|
A state is plural, and needs education to make it a community
|
|
22588
|
A city has a single end, so education must focus on that, and be communal, not private
|
|
2847
|
The aim of serious childhood play is the amusement of the complete adult
|
25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 5. Education / c. Teaching
|
2842
|
Men learn partly by habit, and partly by listening
|
25. Social Practice / F. Life Issues / 3. Abortion
|
2844
|
Abortions should be procured before the embryo has acquired life and sensation
|
26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 2. Natural Purpose / a. Final purpose
|
2809
|
If nature makes everything for a purpose, then plants and animals must have been made for man
|
26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 2. Natural Purpose / b. Limited purposes
|
2800
|
The best instruments have one purpose, not many
|
28. God / A. Divine Nature / 2. Divine Nature
|
2836
|
God is not blessed and happy because of external goods, but because of his own nature
|
28. God / C. Attitudes to God / 4. God Reflects Humanity
|
2802
|
Men imagine gods to be of human shape, with a human lifestyle
|