Aristotles Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Aristotles Politics - Essay Example Therefore, at times, he tends to justify the status quo-making statements that some people are born to be slaves, and that a slave "is a possession of the animate sort"2 or that 'Hellenes' (Greeks) are superior to others (barbarians) These ideas may be reprehensible today to us, who favor a liberal approach. However, in discussing the views of the thinkers of antiquity we must remember the setting in which they were placed, and accept that circumstances and environment definitely play a major part in shaping thought processes. In his book, Politics (as also in his Ethics) Aristotle looks among other things at the political and the contemplative life, discussing what is involved in each type of life, and which one of these is preferable. He states that it is the manner in which "goods" are "partitioned" that separates men into three types. These goods he classifies into three, "external goods, goods of the body, and goods of the soul." The "happy man must have all three" of these type of goods.3 The soul is nobler than our bodies or our possessions. And "it is for the sake of the soul that goods external and goods of the body are eligible at all and (we) ought to choose them for the sake of the soul, and not the soul for the sake of them."4 Every human being should seek to be happy. But happiness should not be mistaken for the usual bodily pleasures. In his Ethics Aristotle says that the happiness that a person has achieved cannot be calculated on a short-term basis, but can be ascertained at the end of his life. When a person lives his life ensuring that the "activity of (his) soul (is) according to reason" (Ethics),5 then he attains happiness. The best life, for an individual and for a state, is the life of virtue, "when virtue has external goods enough for the performance of good actions."6 The extent of happiness which a person attains is in proportion to the virtue and wisdom which he possesses, and which leads to virtuous and wise action. A person is "happy and blessed not by reason of any external good, but in himself and by reason of his own nature."7 The difference between good fortune and happiness is that external goods (or good fortune) occur as a result of chance, but happiness which comes by temperate living or virtue is no chance happening. Temperate living comes from right actions that are done because a person possesses virtue and wisdom. Both a man of action and a man of contemplation can pursue a virtuous life-a life in which he uses his wisdom to do the right thing. The highest or best life for a man of action is the political life, while the highest type of contemplative life is the philosopher's life. To use Aristotle's own words," even those who agree in thinking that the life of virtue is the most eligible, raise a question, whether the life of business and politics is or