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Examine the relationship between politics and ethics in Aristotle’s Political Thought.
Aristotle''s political theory is intimately related to his ethical theory. In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle clearly says: "We regard the object of politics as supreme which is the attainment of a good and honourable life of the members of the community."
- For Aristotle, the state is not merely a political community; it is at the same time a, government, a school, an ethics, and culture. It is what expresses man''s whole life; gives man a good life which, in turn, means a moral and ethical living.
- In his Nicomachean Ethics, he describes the moral qualities a man should possess. In Politics as well, he points out the qualities of a citizen; a good man can only be a good citizen. As in a good man, so in a good citizen there ought to be qualities such as cooperation, tolerance, self-control, qualities which Aristotle says, are imbibed by practice. Thus, practice helps attain qualities and politics helps achieve ethical ends.
- Aristotle asserts, that we see ethical life. As politics, he continues is a science of practice and as through our activities we seek the achievement of moral virtues, it is, he concluded, in our own hands to adopt good or bad virtues. Through our efforts we can attain qualities and leave what is not virtuous.
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- In his work on ethics, he says emphatically that man is different from animal in so far as he is more active and more rational than animals. It is through his rationality, the element of reason in him, that man does what is in his interest or is in the interest of the community of which he is a part; he seeks what is good for him and for his fellow-beings. Men, Aristotle holds the view, and not animals, have had lessons of ethics.
- For Aristotle, justice is virtue, a complete virtue, morality personified and all that is good. This is his notion of justice in his Nicomachean Ethics. In his Politics, tile view about justice is distributive linked to the notion of proportionate equality which for Aristotle meant to treat equals equally, and unequals, unequally.
- Aristotle gave the concept of a mixed constitution as a solution to prevent instability and establish a lasting form of government in the Greek city-state. He employed his idea of the "Golden Mean" to create stability. In his book "Ethics", he explains the Golden Mean as a middle path, which means that virtue lies between two extremes. Anything on an extreme end becomes a vice, and each virtue lies in the middle of the two extremes. For instance, courage is a virtue that lies between the two extremes of timidity and negligence. Aristotle''s suggestion of a judicious mixture between aristocracy and what is sometimes referred to as Polity or, at other times Democracy, embodies his belief in the Golden Mean formula. Hence, the competent, rich and educated would rule, but the ordinary citizens would check the aristocracy from exceeding their power by ratifying their decisions. In modern times, Aristotle''s formula is arguably referred to as Constitutional Democracy.
Ethics guides Aristotle''s political theory, seeking the co-relation of political and ethical life. His Nicomachean Ethics is an inspiration to his Politics. Nowhere in the discussion of his political ideas does Aristotle say anything which is not ethical.
POSTED ON 03-06-2025 BY ADMIN
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