Single Idea 22523

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 1. A People / c. A unified people]

Full Idea

The community, coming from several villages, when it is complete, is the city, once it has already reached (one might almost say) the limit of total self-sufficiency.

Gist of Idea

The community (of villages) becomes a city when it is totally self-sufficient

Source

Aristotle (Politics [c.332 BCE], 1252b27)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Politics', ed/tr. Reeve,C.D.C. [Hackett 2017], p.3


A Reaction

I suppose a group of villages might be self-sufficient, provided water supply and defences were secure. In a city it is all within easy reach. Each village can't have a full set of specialists.