Aristotle's quote about the state remains relevant to this day

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:55

Aristotle is one of the most influential names in philosophy. A student of Plato, who departed from the teachings of his teacher and created his own school, Aristotle was the main teacher of Alexander the Great, and his ideas influenced the political activities of Macedonian. It was Aristotle who laid the foundation for several modern sciences, such as political science and sociology, whose quotes and aphorisms are still relevant.

Biography

The future great philosopher was born in 384 BC. e. His father, Nicomachus (after whom Aristotle named his son and probably the volume of his ethics), worked as a royal physician at the Macedonian court. The father's position was determined by Aristotle's early acquaintance with Philip II of Macedon, Alexander's father. Philip stood at the foundations of the heyday of the Macedonian state, which fell just in the childhood and youth of Aristotle.

In his early youth, Aristotle was left without a father, but at the same time received a rich inheritance that allowed the young man not to interrupt his education. Two years later, Aristotle moved to Athens and joined the Platonic school. He was a student, colleague andfriend of Plato for twenty years, despite the fact that he disagreed with his teacher in many ways.

After the death of Plato, Aristotle left Athens, married and became a teacher of Alexander the Great until his 18th birthday. Despite his services to the policy and the creation of his own philosophical school, Aristotle remained a citizen of Macedonia and was forced to leave the Greek policy after the death of Alexander. The philosopher himself died a year after his famous student.

Aristotle's philosophy

In addition to the fact that Aristotle developed ethics and became the founder of formal logic, creating a conceptual apparatus that is relevant to this day, he also became the only philosopher of the classical period who created a philosophical system. All spheres of human life - ontology, religion, sociology, politics, physics, logic and even the origin of species were affected by Aristotle in his work. Quotes about life, taken from his collections or the memoirs of his students and associates, reflect his wisdom and deep knowledge in various fields.

Aristotle singled out theoretical sciences - those that give only knowledge. These include physics, metaphysics, theology and mathematics. Ethics and politics - practical sciences; knowledge gained from their study can be applied in activities. Aristotle's ideas about the state had a special influence on modern philosophy. In fact, he became the progenitor of sociology and political science.

Aristotle's ideas and quotes about the state

Aristotle was an individualist and zealously opposed Plato's ideas about the ideal structure of the state. The ideal structure of the polis, according to Plato, was "communal". The commonality of everything was assumed - from material we alth to wives and children. Aristotle said that communism and polygamy destroy the state. On the basis of controversy, Aristotle's famous quote "Plato is my friend, but the truth is dearer" appeared, which in the original sounded a little more complicated.

Aristotle was a supporter of private property, slavery and monogamy, while he considered the social status of some sections of the state below, such as slaves, the poor and women. The desire of a person to live in society and it is reasonable to create first a family, then a community, and later a state. However, being a citizen means putting the state before the family and the community.

The origin and nature of the state

Aristotle adhered to the historical theory of the creation of the state. According to his ideas, the beginning of the state system was the nature of man - a social being that requires communication. The desire of a person to live not just comfortably, but happily determines his desire for socialization. According to Aristotle, a person who does not need communication is either an animal or a deity.

In order to achieve basic needs that cannot be achieved alone, people - men and women - united in families. Families began to live closer to each other, forming communities. There was a division of labor, a system of exchange and slavery. Subsequently, these communitiesgrew and evolved into a state. Aristotle's quote about the social nature of man is as follows: "A person who is unable or unwilling to live in society is either a beast or God, for he alone is enough."

Aristotle compares the state with the human body, in which each part of the body, each organ performs its own individual function: head, hands, heart, etc. Hence Aristotle’s quote about management: “A person has one head, so The state must have one ruler. The idea of a single organism makes the philosopher believe in the need for certain freedoms and rights of the individual, as well as the division of power into branches. The rejection of tyranny is indicated by Aristotle's quote that most tyrants are demagogues, and they are not capable of anything other than ruining their own state with too strict laws and incessant control.