Ancient Greek Philosophy and Political Power

Posted on Dec 6, 2024 in Philosophy and ethics

The Highest Good

For Aristotle, fulfilling one’s purpose is virtue (arete). The supreme good of humanity lies in developing what distinguishes us from other beings: the activity and cultivation of reason. In nurturing the human soul as the engine of our intellect and rationality, we find happiness.

However, to achieve this cultivation of reason, individuals need a stable and peaceful environment. Thus, ethics is subject to politics because society’s ultimate aim is the development of our virtue.

Ethical Virtues

Ethical virtues guide our behavior toward the good, moderating our irrational instincts. These are classified as ethical virtues:

• Courage: the mean between rashness and cowardice.
• Temperance: the mean between debauchery and insensitivity.
• Generosity: the mean between prodigality and avarice.
• Justice: respecting state laws and equitably sharing benefits, goods, and burdens. Justice is the most important ethical virtue.

Dianoetic Virtues

Dianoetic virtues are related to human rational activity. Among them are:

• Wisdom: learning principles and their consequences.
• Prudence: the intellectual ability to distinguish necessary from unnecessary things and to choose good and reject evil.

Cynicism, Stoicism, and Epicureanism

After Alexander the Great’s death (323 BC), ethical reflection focused on the concept of nature as a harmonious whole encompassing humanity. The three main currents of this ethical naturalism were Cynicism, Stoicism, and Epicureanism.

Cynicism

The Cynics, founded by Antisthenes around 450 BC, included prominent members like Diogenes and Crates of Thebes. Cynics sought a virtuous and completely free life as the ultimate source of happiness. They disregarded social norms, seeking virtue by living according to nature. This involved contempt for material goods and the ideal of individual self-sufficiency (autarky).

Cynicism arose as a counterpoint to the complex social life, full of rules, laws, and traditions that obscured the natural goodness of every human being.

Stoicism

Zeno of Citium opened a school of philosophers called Stoics in 306 BC. Their entire philosophical system revolved around ethics. For Stoics, natural laws act inexorably on all beings, and only ethics can teach us to live according to these laws.

Stoic ethics can be summarized as “living according to nature.” We achieve happiness only if we understand the laws governing our destiny and accept them calmly. This serenity comes from absolute control over our passions (apathy).

Stoics advocated avoiding both joys and sorrows, achieving serenity through ataraxia, an unwavering spirit.

Epicureanism

Epicureanism, inspired by Epicurus of Samos and later systematized by the Roman philosopher Lucretius, is also known as hedonism. It argues that happiness lies in enjoyment and pleasure, both of the soul and body. This philosophy considers the physical and corporeal as means to access happiness and live in harmony with our innate needs.

The Legitimacy of Power

From this perspective, political power’s legitimacy rests on the community’s identification with the individuals holding power. When power promotes the common good, feelings of acceptance, participation, and recognition grow. The main proponents of this theory are Plato and Aristotle.

Plato

For Plato, political power’s ultimate goal is the happiness of all members of the polis. This happiness lies in just power. However, only those with the greatest wisdom (philosophers) should rule.

Plato critiqued the most common forms of government in his time: