Aristotle’s Philosophy on Society and Governance
Aristotle’s Political Thought
Human Sociability: The Role of Language
Language is the human trait that best proves the argument for the natural sociability of human beings, according to Aristotle. Nature does nothing without a purpose. Why language? Because of the complexity of the relationships we experience. To cooperate effectively in a complex world, we need a complex system for cooperation.
We, human beings, live with an awareness of the present, past, and future, unlike animals, who can only communicate about immediate actions. Humans, however, can retain and transmit knowledge from the past, which is crucial for complex societal interaction.
Society’s Elements and the Whole-Part Principle
Families and tribes are the constituent elements of society. The highest state of development is the polis (city-state), which acts as a unified whole. No family can truly survive independently from society; they need others to survive and cooperate.
Consider the analogy of a body’s organs: they cannot be separated without leading to their demise. Similarly, individual parts of society cannot thrive in isolation from the whole.
Aristotle’s Ultimate Goal for Society
The ultimate goal of society, according to Aristotle, is to foster the development of individuals’ nature in a way that benefits the whole society. This is because the development of morality and knowledge in individuals is inherently directed towards the betterment and flourishing of society as a whole.
Forms of Government: Best and Worst
Aristotle identified three good forms of government and their corresponding corruptions:
- Good Forms: Monarchy, Aristocracy, and Politeia (often translated as ‘Constitutional Government’ or ‘Democracy’ in a specific sense).
- Corrupt Forms: Tyranny, Oligarchy, and Demagogy.
Understanding the Forms of Government
Monarchy: The rule of a single individual who is wise and virtuous, governing in the best interest of the entire political body.
Tyranny: The corrupt form of monarchy. It is the rule of a single individual who is selfish, arrogant, and careless of the true needs of the people. A tyrant thinks only of their own interests, with no regard for the common good, and is often unable to control their own impulses (lacking temperance).
Aristocracy: The government of the best citizens, those who are most virtuous and capable. This group has the best interests of the political body in mind, striving to develop the intellectual and moral qualities of the people.
Oligarchy: The corrupt form of aristocracy. It is the government of the wealthy, who are often clever enough to exploit the less informed for their individual profits. Oligarchs may manipulate public opinion by telling people what they want to hear, presenting themselves as saviors. These rulers are not virtuous; they seek to obtain and maintain power for their own gain, often eliminating others who stand in their way.
Politeia (Constitutional Government/Democracy): A form of government where people organize themselves to coexist under established laws. For this form to thrive, Aristotle emphasized that citizens must be morally and intellectually developed and capable. Individuals in a politeia are, in a sense, rulers, and thus require intellectual and moral virtue to achieve a true constitutional government.
Demagogy: The corrupt form of politeia. This occurs when the intellectual and moral quality of the citizens deteriorates. The city begins to follow impulses and opinions rather than reasoned ideas, allowing public opinion to dictate governance.
Key Definitions of Government Forms
- Democracy (Politeia)
- Government of all citizens according to established laws, prioritizing the common good.
- Demagogy
- Government of all citizens without respect for the laws, driven by popular impulses and self-interest.
- Aristocracy
- Government by the best and most virtuous citizens, ruling for the common good.
- Oligarchy
- Government by the wealthy, ruling for their own private gain.
- Monarchy
- Rule by a single, noble individual with the acceptance of the people and respect for laws, prioritizing the common good.
- Tyranny
- Rule by a single individual who seizes power violently and governs without respecting legality or the common good.