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Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

Aristotle (384-322 B.C.). Born in Stagira, an Athenian colony in Macedonia (Aristotle was never an Athenian citizen)  foreigner  Cosmopolitan perspective Upper-middle class background, his father was the physician of the Macedonian court. At 17, moved to Athens to study at Plato’s Academy

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Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

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  1. Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) • Born in Stagira, an Athenian colony in Macedonia (Aristotle was never an Athenian citizen)  foreigner Cosmopolitan perspective • Upper-middle class background, his father was the physician of the Macedonian court. • At 17, moved to Athens to study at Plato’s Academy • Tutor of Macedonian Alexander • Organized his own academy in Athens, the Lyceeum (survived for 500 years) • After Alexander’s death (323 B.C.) Aristotle had to go into exile and died the following year in Chalcis.

  2. Foundational work in diverse disciplines • Biology, zoology (identified 500 species), physics, medicine, psychology, logic, metaphysics, rhetorics, aesthetics, ethics, politics (all of these subjects were taught in the Lyceeum) • Politics • Political theory • Comparative government (Aristotle is the first comparativist—study of 158 constitutions)

  3. Works: • Only a fraction of his work survives • Compiled in 150 volumes • Exoteric/Esoteric (not intended for publication… lecture notes) • Includes The Athenian Constitution, On Dreams, Physics,Metaphysics, Poetics, Politics, Nicomachean Ethics, Rhetorics… • Politics (8 books) • http://classics.mit.edu/Browse/index-Aristotle.html

  4. Human Knowledge

  5. Similarities/Differences with Plato?

  6. Plato Aristotle

  7. Nature • Species (fixed #) • Teleology: “…the nature of a thing is its end.” • Potency Realization • How and where is human nature fully developed? Why?

  8. The State = Organic Whole Man as a political animal  What distinguishes the state from all other communities?How is state rule different from master/slave domination?

  9. The Good Life = Happiness • … Is the virtuous life. • The practice of virtue requires being “furnished with means.” (88) • Practicing virtue allows human beings to become what they are, to realize their essence. • Speech and action (in the Polis) • Good man ≠ good citizen • Activities that allow men to realize their nature: art, science, prudence, wisdom, and intuition. • “The political sciences are species of prudence.”

  10. Functions of the State(services the state must provide) (98) • Food • Arts • Arms • Revenue • Religion • Power of deciding • Justice “…a state exists for the sake of a good life, and not for the sake of life only…”

  11. Life & the state “…it is evident that the state is a creation of nature, and that man is by nature a political animal. And he who by nature and not by mere accident is without a state, is either a bad man or above humanity; he is like the Tribeless, lawless, heartless one Whom Homer denounces—the natural outcast is forthwith a lover of war; he may be compared to an isolated piece at draughts.” (86) Zoē Vs. Bios Mere Life the Good Life (or Bare Life) (voice) (speech) Parts /Necessary conditions

  12. Ontology God Being Natural hierarchy of beings (fixed)… Scale of Being Angels Man (female, slave) Animals Plants Minerals Non-Being

  13. Different Beings • Citizens • Slaves: no speech

  14. “…governments differ in kind…”

  15. Cycle

  16. Best and Worst Forms

  17. Is Aristotle’s ontology still dominant these days? • Is politics in the West founded upon these distinctions? • Are all beings equally worthy, or some forms of life amount for only “mere life”? • Are these distinctions still made among human beings? • Is this a good or bad understanding of human nature?

  18. Categories • Substance (fundamental entities) • Quality • Quantity • Relation • Where • When • Position • Having • Action • Passion Redeveloped by Kant in the 18th century

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