| Aristotle's Thoughts on Society
Aristotle shows us the differences
in the forms of government and tells us which ones are the "correct" forms.
Aristotle states that the "correct" form of government is the government that
serves "the common good" according to the principles of justice ahead of the
ruler.
"It is clear then both the best
partnership in a state is the one which operates through the middle people, and also that
those states in which the middle element is large, and stronger if possible than the other
two together, or at any rate stronger than either of them alone, have every chance of
having a well-run constitution." This means that the state should operate through the
people in the middle class, not the poor, or the very rich.
Aristotle maintains, "A state's
purpose is not merely to provide a living but to make a life that is good";
otherwise, he comments. "it might be made up of slaves or animals other than
man," which is absurd since they lack sufficient deliberative intellect and free
choice. A state is "an association" based on civic friendship, designed to
promote "noble actions" and "living happily." |
