ARISTOTLE

Characteristics of Aristotle’s ideal state:

POPULATION: SIZE OF STATE: GEOGRAPHY: DIVISION/CLASSES:
should be small moderate size Close to the sea 1. Slaves:
large population not too small for economic Agriculture
will cause (difficult to defend) purposes. Crafts
governance crisis -->not too large not too close that Art
Small enough to (making law the vicinity makes it 2. Citizens:
gather in a public enforcement harder) vulnerable (in this Defense (youth)
place for policy case the naval Religion ( old people)
making. personals will be government (middle
unable to take part aged)
in body politics)

EDUCATION: PROPERTY: CONSTITUTION:

common to all citizens Possession of property should be flexible and
design should be focused (some) is allowed to rulers. easily adjustable
on creating good citizens

ARISTOTLE’S CONSTITUTIONAL STATE:

 Two forces in every society quality (oligarchic character of society, wealth, education,
position etc.), quantity (democratic character, the claim of masses)
 Every society has
1. Rich class ( only knows how to command)
2. Poor class (only knows how to obey)
3. Middle class (nor so poor to become a fool, not so rich to become factious hence
maintains balance in any society)
 Hence such a state can be created only by giving power to the middle class to ensure
balance between oligarchy and democracy.
 POLITY is a form of government that maintains balance between oligarchy and
democracy. It does not only maintain balance between the two but also mixes them.

ORIGIN OF STATE
1. HUMAN NATURE:
‘Alone man can either be God or beast’
o Man, a social animal
o He is not self-sufficient
2. FAMILY:
o The association established by nature to supply man’s everyday needs
3. BIG COMMUNITIES:
o A union of families for the satisfaction of complicated needs
4. STATE:
o Family village state in a struggle for self-improvement.
o Political and social needs of man make him create an organized society i.e. state.

PLATO VS. ARISTOTLE

SIMILARITIES:
1. Upheld slavery
2. Importance of education
3. Believe in unity and harmony
4. Against democracy
5. Advocates of justice
6. Classify society
7. Believe in welfare state.
DIFFERENCES:

PLATO ARISTOTLE
1. Methodology Deductive Inductive
2. Believe in No Yes
constitutionalism
3. Gender equality Yes No
4. Type of govt. Totalitarianism Polity
5. Division of Three classes Six classes
society
6. Communism of
family and Yes No

property