Aristotle Flashcards
(103 cards)
1
Q
background
A
write 4thc bc
plato teacher
gre up stagira, moved Athen s
adviser prince philo[ of macadeon
athenian democracy 5thc
2
Q
impact fow here lived
A
o But Macedonian so not citizen couldn’t vote/participate in political life, outsider analysising- a metic – practice of induction observation
o Metaphysics 2.1
- results in common beliefs
3
Q
metaphsyics 2.1
A
through induction all people found some element of truh, empirical
‘ no one person is able to attain the truth adequatley’ ‘the union of all a considerable amount. Is massed
4
Q
results common belif
A
endoxa
topics 1.1
‘those opinions are reputable which are accepted by everyone of by the majority ro by the wise’
5
Q
advisory role
A
- give perspective on kingship, whilst Athens on republic
o Politics and ethics practical not threoretical practice
o Although collection of facts without systemic deduction worthless ethics x/9eth
6
Q
ethics x.9
A
’ in the lijgtof the political systems we have collected’ empirical
let us try to consider what sorts of things preserve and destroy ciies
what causes some cities to be run well and others badly run
7
Q
athenian dmeocracy 5thc
A
o Fragile goes through cycles of tyranny and democracy
o Macedonia controls Athens- so cannot control constition
o Omer says
plato
8
Q
omer on athenian democracy
A
says antidemocratic sentiment at the time due to the factionalist turbulence causes
9
Q
plato view athenian democracy
A
disaster in Athens, thus remove inequality which creates these sources of tension- proto-commumism which is challenged by aristotle
10
Q
aims of aristotle
A
- sought to understand human nature; what motivates us; and therefore, how best to live
- understanding processes of change
11
Q
metaodlogy style
A
writing philk evolves
defined by rejection fo approach of plato
politics
ethics style
12
Q
writing phil eolves
A
all teaching and all intellectual learning come about from already existing knwolegde- posterior analystics 1.1
13
Q
aristotle style
A
- Texts more like series of lecture notes rather than ready for publication - politics
14
Q
rejection plato
A
o Empiricism v idealist text
Rejects universal approach- plato refers to tyrant as ‘perfect speicimin of jsutice’ 729 times more happy than philosopher kig
Ones nature determines and natural envrioneme action- tacitus ref how northern cold seek freedom
15
Q
politics style
A
analytical, evidence based
16
Q
ethics style
A
rational human nature virtue
o Written before politics as referenced in end para
o Intended that the two should work together
o Continued his ethical thought
o ‘now our predecessors have left the subject f leg to us unexained’ ‘general study the q o ft hec onstition, in order to complete to the best of our philosophy of human nature’
17
Q
why was man political naimal
A
human nature
driven to ahcieve final cause
law education havitate some good
rationality
happiness
laws needed
middle classes
18
Q
middle classes
A
rule as can have lesrue and more contemplative life
19
Q
happiness content - political animal
A
Rationality, develops with virtuous acts, intellect character
Bk 1 ch10 defines as activity in accordance with vritu
Polis- active citizen was execssibly rational and viryoous, fulful human nature bu promoting good
20
Q
political law needed
A
help achieve happiness virtu through guidance
constition
justice matter of convention contract for own self interest- put forward by character glaucon (Hobbesian)
rejects notion fo justice that mighty is right, not shorthand for will of the miiughty- put forward by character Thrasymachus
plato- justice harmony in human soul as should be harmony in political community
21
Q
mixed constition lehy brief
A
- Balances- middle classes, reduces inequality
- Mean theory from ethics- justice, balanced,
o Justice is exercised proprionaly
22
Q
rationality
A
who are no
men not always
23
Q
rationality who not
A
- Women- rational but lack in authority to exercise
- Children immature
- Slavery- don’t have rationalitya t all, not human, beass, by nature, not a citizen
24
Q
men not always rational
A
- Otherwise would have perfect constition
- Instead due to inequality drives this tension, virtu not always seen
25
human nature- political animal
instinctive form smaller communities -
rationality to polis
26
insticntive smaller families
families due to power dynamics
* Mans (rather women children slave) is rational
27
rationality broadr political communities
search of self-sufficiency and eudomania
* Gain from comm more than family- shelter food defence, then friendship and human flourishing
28
final cause
4 causes
rationality
medieval chirstsina- god creator
end is happiness and self sufficiency it is to achieve god
29
4 causes
material efficieny, formal final (telos)
* When comes to constitional- citizens, lawgiver, constition/shape of polis and flourishing
* Lawgivers esp important- solon Lycurgus
* Physics show his interest in change
30
final cause rationality
o It is rationality what makes us political
o Ideas united better than one – hence why have communities
o Through capacity to reason perceive good
o More creative than animals so know how to achieve goodness
31
by nature- political communities instinctive quotes
As the ‘swallow makes its nest’ and ‘the spider its web’
actions were driven by some innate drive towards one’s ‘final cause’: as a spider builds a web endeavouring to catch a fly to eat, humans formed political communities hope of happiness and security
metaphysics- ‘for all things are ordered together to one end’
32
meytaphyics final cause
for all things are ordered together to one end’
33
challenge plato republic - by nature politcial communities
- plato need poitcial communities, a some part instinctive
34
other thinkers on rationality
cicero
‘ the one point in which we have our greatest adv over anials is that we spesk with one snother and cn reproduce our thought in words’
35
benefit from political commnuity
Although not conscious aim does result
‘attaining a perfect and self-sufficing existence’
36
how structure constition
best ift -depends
families then villages then cities
37
families - constitionlly
most basic political unit
man’s ‘rule over his wife is like that of a statesman over fellow citizeship’
mans rule over child 'like that o f monarch over subjects'
38
quote women rationaity
* women is like a slave as ‘no naturally ruling element exists among them’
* have ‘faculty of deliberation’ but ‘in a form which lacks authority’
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children rationality
* children immature in both ‘faculty of deliberation’ and authoritative rationality
40
why lean to citis
should do ‘by reason of his own nature’
without political assc those isolated inidvid would be less of a human- ‘either a beast or a god’
emerge due to evolution of ‘adult male’ citizen’s psyche
political community rather than just assc
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development of 'adult male' citizen psyceh
* virtous
* defined rules and honours
* accept ruling and being ruled
* inidvid identity inseperable from public responsibility
42
better together quote
* b4- ‘portion of the polis which desires the permanence of the constition ought to be stronger than that which desires the reverse
* Although community as one shared experiences ‘each individ among the many has a share of excellence and pratcial wisdom’ ‘become in a manner one man’
* ‘ a multitude is a better judge of many things than any individ ‘
43
empirical studies ideal community
* Catalogue of ‘collected constitions’ of 158 cities from Carthage to Crete to Sparta
* Endeavoured to conclude which factors ‘destory cities’ or ‘conduct tehir political life well
* Diff from plato who did not investigate constitions much and def not empirically
44
ccase studies ideal constition
create
solon
45
crete
concluded that cosmoi (chief magistrates) inky drawn from ‘limited number of families’ rather than broader osc- lack legit?
46
solon case study
Athenian
Lawcourst democratic
Method of electing office-holders’ aristocratic
‘council of areopagus’ ‘oligarchic’
emancipating people from serfdom and sweeping away ‘an oligarchy which was far too absolute
likes mixed constiion- ‘intrinsic strength’
47
determining fats as to best constition
physical circmstances- climate
geographical
48
climatic factor
* Physical circumstances find itself- climate, animal plants mineral geography – diff elements suited to diff parts of world
o Asia too hot – produce lethargy- tyranny and slavery
o Northern Europe too cold produce spriit no education or skil
o Temperate climate med- political life wanted
49
georgaphy factor
– book 7 8
o Adjust gov system for number of those morally virtuous, kingship aristocracy
o Several- aristocracy
o Many – democracy – polity- democracy, ruled those honours for military capabilities – first extract
50
virtous peple
laws
education
51
laws need habituate peopel to be vritous
* Number of laws inversely proportional to education , the better education fewer laws needed
* Laws perfect man- ‘best of animals’ as more virtuous
* Education and regulation by plato in republic and laws- shape citizen character
* If ‘isolated’ from law man becomes ‘worst’ of all animals
* Maxmiises rational function and being best of themselves
* Ensure ‘his citizens become good men’
* Goodness of city not exclusively fortune, also ‘art of legislator’
52
education and vritue
* Aristotole congratulates Lycurgus and spartan admin creating effective constition cultivated a virtous sociey
* Men
woman
53
men sparta
greatest attention to the training of the young’
o Soc of virtous young men – military excellence, hardened courageous soldiers, effecting fighting force
54
women sparta
not same education
o Women lucurious undiscipliens and politically influential
55
people ruled by good men or good laws
men ruled by passion- hence need good laws
degree to which content subject to rule of viryos one
virtue wealth freedom
unclear
56
humans ruled by passisom
* Law defined by Aristotle- intellect without desire
* Only someone viroous reiss passions and emotions
* Even kingship pose risk however outstanding of virtous might be
* Political community always need inidvid judge or ruler who applies letter of the law to individ cicumstances
57
degree to which content subject to rule of vritous one
* Polity form of gov in theory ruled by many sake of good of whole community
* Three true forms gov ‘view to the common interest’
* Description polity gives in book 4- extract 3-
58
bk 4 constitoi
o ‘fusion of oligarchy and democracy’
o Good form of gov combines of two perverse form of gov
o Shift in
59
what share in a community
freedom wealth vrtue
saprta carthage polity
60
sparta combination
virtue freedom
61
carthage combintion
virtue wealth
62
polity cmonbination
wealth freedom
consequence this is that act virtuously
first apoligust of middle classes
63
eudamonia v stability
- structure of book
- concenrs stability
- extract 5
eduamonia
64
sturcture of book
Virtue to stability constitions marked contrasts between ethics and politics
* Virtues- wisdom courage temperance
Editors wanted to put book 3, 7.8 together – 19thc editors wanted to do
65
concern stability
arisen collection of historical constitions providing him with axioms, general princpiles
* Human communites settled constitions due to conlficts rich and poor
* First theorist of class war
* Ruled by wealthy few- oligarchy- contempt subject to them
* Ruled by poor many- always characterised poor many, lack of wealth
* Perception of inequality and injustice
66
extract 5 stability
* Distribution in soc large middling class
* Proposes restriction ion inheritance and wealth by any one person
* Equality gives rise to friendship, allows generosity
* Private property- commons amongst friends
* Whilst disagree plato with shared common ownership of women and property as lacks charity and freinship
* Dissolve middle class
67
eudamonia
function
where from
leisure
freidship
68
eudamonia function
o ‘everything is deind by its functions’
o Humans function rational activity
o Good life one in which function performed well with virtue
o Good human lives rational virtuously- deriving happienss from state of being – perhaps more possible in city state
o Ethics x- ‘activity in accordance with ‘ ‘highest virtue’
69
where duamonia from
o Derived from leisure ‘final end of work’ or ‘freedom from the necessity of labour’
o ‘remedy the pain produced by exertion’ and cont working
o Responsibility with politicians and lawyers to maintain
70
leisure
o ‘should be available in a well-ordered city’
o ;best constition’ one which ‘will enableanyone to be at his best and live happily’
o Music
contemplative v active life- good politician s and lawyers one who have time and ahle to sit and think soetimes
71
musci
Towards end of politics
Contributes to a ‘cultivated way of living’
Taught in schools as part of a moral and civic education
72
friendship eudamona
o ‘chief good of cities’
o ‘best safeguard’ against factional disputes
o Indivdi happiness and personal connections are political as can improve or weaken stability in state
o Building blocks to successful stable polis
o ‘an assc depends on friendship ‘
o ‘city aims at being’ ‘composed of equals and peers’
o Tendancy form freindships with one another improatnt aspect of creating a political state
73
public security due to class involvement
o Combination of poor and many have own discrtee ownership, number of people who have share in conduct should be greater than those exluded
Flexivlity [rp[ery qualification adjust up or down to let appropriate number I
Offices locality sleected
Most intriguing – ethuna public scrutiny
74
athenian public scrutiny
* Collective wisdom those live under public constition
* Extracts 6 and 7
* Doesn’t think many virtous in themselves as individ may not matter
* Since when gathered together, collective judgemenet may prove superior to udgement of selective few
* Each share own knowldgee together , many better judges single man
* Rule by many rather than rule by many as individuals
* Not case that ‘any one of the citizens belongs to himself’ ‘for they all belong to the polis’
75
meaning friendhsip
Central Thomas aquinus
Friendship love for another indiid as themslevs
Explicityly not determined by what get in return
* Utlitatrian briefly, not underpin community of polis
76
relationship individual good and comon good
aim goodness
active life v contemplative life
self-sacrifice
good man v good citizen
77
aim goodness relatiosnhip
Polities come into being ‘for the sake of some good’
‘all men do all their acts’ hoping to achieve something which is good- optimistc view human naturea
78
ctive life v contemplative life
Adamant contemplative life better than active life
common good ordering indivdi social arrangement rather rtha ana l encompassing netaphycial reality
79
self sacrifice
ethics 9.8
Self sacrifice on battlefield litmu test on this
* As hobbes explores
80
ethics 9.8 for self sacrifice
* Diff indivdi and common good clearest
* Self sacrifice not common godo, also secure best in themesleves supreme act of virtue – underpins hobbes
* Good man lover of self, profit himself by oing nobel acts
* ‘good man should be a lover of self’
* ‘true of the good man’..’many acts for the sake of his friends and his country’..’dies for them’- ethics
* ‘all the things he will sacrifice to his friend, for this is noble and laudable for himself’
81
good man v good ciizen
Aritostle does not pick up as much detail – early commentators did esp renaissance
Conseuneces – if Aristotle virtue vary personsn function and according to circumstance then virtue of citizen virtue constition
82
conflict form many
* To be a good citizen is to contribute wht gives license of many
* Tyranny contribute self gratification of ruler
* In order fulfil human nature may oppose perverted constition
83
tyranny
Least stable form
Hatred and anger eman tyrant need to surround with mercenaries
84
democracy
Perverse form gov
Most stable most equality, least envy amongst individuals
85
gov made more stable by constitional change
Avoid disproportionate increase one part of community
Give more weight togroup votes
Rumours aspect danger , eveyr community seek protect own form of gov- terrors
86
stasis
constigional change
econ prosperity
tryant ensures
87
econ prosperity
peaceful transition more inclusive form of gov
* Exception rathe rthan rule
* Eschews universl patterns or theory of change
* Forms of gov changeinto polar opposite type
88
tyrant how
adopt variety tyrannical ways- constant war, limit education –
o Should always remove more prominent members of community
o Those who denounce tyranny and blame thosefacilitate, extract 15
As was case- blamed counsel fwhich periander gave to Thrasybulus cannot eb held altogether just in their censure
89
kingship
o Option two adopt charaitaristic pollar opposte- kingship
Offer relief for poor, put into practice diff
Salvation of tyranny extract 16
‘But must keep enough power to rule own subjects ‘
‘make I tmore like the rule of a king’
‘if possible be moderate’
90
heart of political thought
o Education and law- make people good and various
o Obv comparison in plato
o Sets him apart is historical contingency variables
o Above all open q of relationship ideal community and best practical community
Unlike plato is concenred what can be achieved in prace
Happiness and virtue or more serviceable end of stability
91
aristotle type
features classical republcian
92
what is hobbes
contractural historian
93
rousseau wat
combination classical republican and contractural historian
94
marx what
comine rousseau human nature with Aristotle methodology
95
aristotel and hobbes
Aristotle perfect foil
Hobbes fundamental equality not natural instinct rational calculation
Setting out adopt opp approach Aristotle
96
marxa nd hobes
closer argument and approach of ethcis and politics
Mechanics, conflict rich and poor, inequitable distribution of resouces
rev rupture
come back to Aristotle slavish nature of labour
medical understanding mixture
97
quote man lost without pollis
clanless and lawless and heartless i she- quotes homeric verse in politics 1.2
98
cicero quotes further
our greatest advantage over animals is that we speak
with one another and can reproduce our thought in words' humans have been able to 'gather scattered humanity into one place'
99
quote for questioning which type of constition to go for
'must nec be either one or few or many'
each have correct and perverse one
100
best form of constition for a polis
liekly polity w mixed constition
101
middle classes supoprted quote
the best
form of political association is one where the power is vested in the middle class17'
, as they are
neither 'over noble, over wealthy or 'over poor, over weak'18
, and thus can focus more on the
common good as each man already has adequate but not excessive possessions of their own.
102
justice mean quote
justice is considered to mean
equality, it does mean equality but equality for those who are equal, not for a
103
