Single Idea 12281

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 1. A People / a. Human distinctiveness]

Full Idea

It is an essential [kath' auto] property of man to be 'by nature a civilized animal'.

Clarification

'Kath' auto' really means 'intrinsic' or 'per se'

Gist of Idea

Man is intrinsically a civilized animal

Source

Aristotle (Topics [c.331 BCE], 128b17)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Posterior Analytics and Topica', ed/tr. Tredennick,H/Forster,ES [Harvard 1960], p.481


A Reaction

I take this, along with man being intrinsically rational, to be the foundation of Aristotelian ethics. Given that we are civilized, self-evident criteria emerge for how to be good at it. A good person is, above all, a good citizen.