Political Philosophy
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Aristotle384322B.pptxAristotle (384–322 B.C.E.)
He numbers among the greatest philosophers of all time. Judged solely in terms of his philosophical influence, only Plato is his peer: Aristotle’s works shaped centuries of philosophy from Late Antiquity through the Renaissance, and even today continue to be studied with keen, non-antiquarian interest.
His View of Politics
Political science studies the tasks of the politician or statesman in much the way that medical science concerns the work of the physician. It is, in fact, the body of knowledge that such practitioners, if truly expert, will also wield in pursuing their tasks.
This involves enduring laws, customs, and institutions (including a system of moral education) for the citizens. Once the constitution is in place, the politician needs to take the appropriate measures to maintain it, to introduce reforms when he finds them necessary, and to prevent developments which might subvert the political system.
Aristotle begins by asking if there is one thing at which all action aims; if there is one thing all action seeks for its own sake. Aristotle says that eudaimonia is that thing. Eudaimonia is variously translated as happiness, flourishing, well-being, living well, fulfillment, or perfection. In his own words “the human good turns out to be activity in the soul [mind] in accordance with excellence.” In other words, the good life is activity that involves rationality and embodying excellence over an entire lifetime.
Remember Plato’s Good? Which was in a different realm: the realm of Forms?
So, everyone’s aim is to achieve this Eudiamonia. Hence we live in a society inroder to better help us reach there.
Rules and regulations of the society would be the guarantee for us to achieve our happiness.
Thus man is a Political animal since he alone has the sense of good and evil, just and unjust. He is the only ethical being who can live in a political society governed by laws and abide by them. (the good life)
Distributive Justice in Athens that time
Athenian democracy applied distributive justice at that time.
What is distributive justice?
Distributive justice is a concept that addresses the ownership of goods in a society. It assumes that there is a large amount of fairness in the distribution of goods.
Equality: Regardless of their inputs, all group members should be given an equal share of the rewards/costs. Equality supports that someone who contributes 20% of the group's resources should receive as much as someone who contributes 60%.
Equity: Members' outcomes should be based upon their inputs. Therefore, an individual who has invested a large amount of input (e.g. time, money, energy) should receive more from the group than someone who has contributed very little. Members of large groups prefer to base allocations of rewards and costs on equity.
Power: Those with more authority, status, or control over the group should receive more than those in lower level positions.
Need: Those in greatest needs should be provided with resources needed to meet those needs. These individuals should be given more resources than those who already possess them, regardless of their input.
Responsibility: Group members who have the most should share their resources with those who have less
Five ways for Distributive justice to be applied”
His Theory of Justice
There is a problem however!
Aristotle does not think that all people are by nature equal and that they have the natural right to be treated as such. He defended the institution of slavery!
Distributive Justice has problems:
What is to be distributed?
Who should it be distributed to?
And who should take how much of the thing distributed?
Thus the problem of Distributive justice (or equity) is that is does not say who should be treated equally? Thus amounting to the principle of Impartiality and the Rule of law.
So this principle should be given a concrete realization inside the Polis.
Hence comes his theory………
Aristotle on Justice and the Distribution of Power
Aristotle said usually power is distributed over 2 different standards:
Wealth and power – Oligarchy and Tyranny
Citizenship - Democracy
These (wealth and citizenship) are faulty concepts as basis for distribution of Political Power. (It is like giving people power only because they are taller!)
Aristotle agrees with Plato that Ruling is like any other craft, or job. It needs its expertise.
Thus the best ruling system is that which distributes power in accordance with virtue: the best people ‘arostoi’ (who have nobility, excellence, knowledge, merit) are the ones to be given power.
When only one person is of virtue – Kingship
only few persons are of virtue – Aristocracy
all the people are of virtue - Polis
Based on virtue Based of faulty standards
Power and Wealth
Wealth
Citizenship
All forms of government in the middle column would insure “The Good Life” and the Eudaimonia for People
But, Aristocracy is the most likely to happen. A society cannot have only one virtuous person; and cannot as
Well have all virtuous people.
