Ideas from 'Politics' by Aristotle [332 BCE], by Theme Structure
[found in 'Politics' by Aristotle (ed/tr Reeve,C.D.C.) [Hackett 2017,978-1-62466-557-8]].
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1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 5. Aims of Philosophy / a. Philosophy as worldly
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2845
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Free and great-souled men do not keep asking "what is the use of it?"
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1. Philosophy / F. Analytic Philosophy / 1. Nature of Analysis
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22521
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Our method of inquiry is to examine the smallest parts that make up the whole
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2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 2. Logos
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1570
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Human beings, alone of the animals, have logos
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2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 4. Aims of Reason
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1574
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Reasoning distinguishes what is beneficial, and hence what is right
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2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 7. Status of Reason
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2801
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Intelligence which looks ahead is a natural master, while bodily strength is a natural slave
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2. Reason / F. Fallacies / 3. Question Begging
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22529
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Men are natural leaders (apart from the unnatural ones)
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2. Reason / F. Fallacies / 5. Fallacy of Composition
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22571
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'If each is small, so too are all' is in one way false, for the whole composed of all is not small
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9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 8. Parts of Objects / c. Wholes from parts
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22525
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The whole is prior to its parts, because parts are defined by their role
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11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 2. Understanding
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22587
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Understanding is the aim of our nature
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14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / g. Causal explanations
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22522
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To grasp something, trace it back to its natural origins
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14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / k. Explanations by essence
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22524
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The nature of each thing is its mature state
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16. Persons / B. Nature of the Self / 4. Presupposition of Self
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22528
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The nature of all animate things is to have one part which rules it
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19. Language / F. Communication / 1. Rhetoric
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22570
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Rhetoric now enables good speakers to become popular leaders
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20. Action / B. Preliminaries of Action / 2. Willed Action / d. Weakness of will
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22574
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A community can lack self-control
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21. Aesthetics / A. Aesthetic Experience / 5. Natural Beauty
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2837
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Nothing contrary to nature is beautiful
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21. Aesthetics / C. Artistic Issues / 5. Objectivism in Art
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2824
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The collective judgement of many people on art is better than that of an individual
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21. Aesthetics / C. Artistic Issues / 7. Art and Morality
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2846
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Music can mould the character to be virtuous (just as gymnastics trains the body)
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22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / j. Ethics by convention
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2807
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Some say slavery is unnatural and created by convention, and is therefore forced, and unjust
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22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / g. Love
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22582
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Spirit [thumos] is the capacity by which we love
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22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / i. Self-interest
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2810
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Selfishness is wrong not because it is self-love, but because it is excessive
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22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 1. Goodness / g. Consequentialism
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22555
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The function of good men is to confer benefits
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23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / c. Motivation for virtue
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22557
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Virtuous people are like the citizens of the best city
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2841
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People become good because of nature, habit and reason
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23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / f. The Mean
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / h. Right feelings
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22590
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Virtue is concerned with correct feelings
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23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / b. Temperance
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2813
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It is quite possible to live a moderate life and yet be miserable
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23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / c. Justice
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22553
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Justice is a virtue of communities
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23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 4. External Goods / c. Wealth
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22561
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The rich are seen as noble, because they don't need to commit crimes
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23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 4. External Goods / d. Friendship
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2808
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Master and slave can have friendship through common interests
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24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 1. A People / a. Human distinctiveness
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2803
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Man is by nature a political animal
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2820
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People want to live together, even when they don't want mutual help
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22586
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Only humans have reason
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24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 1. A People / c. A unified people
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22523
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The community (of villages) becomes a city when it is totally self-sufficient
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2805
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A community must share a common view of good and justice
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22526
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People who are anti-social or wholly self-sufficient are no part of a city
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22535
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Friendship is the best good for cities, because it reduces factions
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22584
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A community should all share to some extent in something like land or food
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22532
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A city can't become entirely one, because its very nature is to be a multitude
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24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 2. Population / b. State population
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22581
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The size of a city is decided by the maximum self-sufficient community that can be surveyed
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24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 1. Purpose of a State
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22577
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What is the best life for everyone, and is that a communal or an individual problem?
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22578
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The happiest city is the one that acts most nobly
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22579
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The same four cardinal virtues which apply to individuals also apply to a city
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2431
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Every state is an association formed for some good purpose
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22548
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A city aims at living well
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24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 2. State Legitimacy / d. General will
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2832
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The state aims to consist as far as possible of those who are like and equal
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24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 3. Constitutions
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2973
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We must decide the most desirable human life before designing a constitution
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22580
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The best constitution enables everyone to live the best life
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22546
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A city is a community of free people, and the constitution should aim at the common advantage
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2821
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The six constitutions are monarchy/tyranny, aristocracy/oligarchy, and polity/democracy
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22558
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Constitutions specify distribution of offices, the authorities, and the community's aim
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22566
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The greed of the rich is more destructive than the greed of the people
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2835
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Any constitution can be made to last for a day or two
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24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 4. Citizenship
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22544
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A citizen is someone who is allowed to hold official posts in a city
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2818
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The virtues of a good citizen are relative to a particular constitution
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22545
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A person can be an excellent citizen without being an excellent man
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22563
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The middle classes are neither ambitious nor anarchic, which is good
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24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 2. Leaders / b. Monarchy
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22541
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Kings should be selected according to character
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24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 2. Leaders / d. Elites
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22583
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The guardians should not be harsh to strangers, as no one should behave like that
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2819
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The only virtue special to a ruler is practical wisdom
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22552
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The rich can claim to rule, because of land ownership, and being more trustworthy
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22542
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People who buy public office will probably expect to profit from it
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24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 3. Government / c. Executive
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22572
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Officers should like the constitution, be capable, and have appropriate virtues and justice
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22543
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In large communities it is better if more people participate in the offices
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22539
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Election of officials by the elected is dangerous, because factions can control it
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24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / a. Nature of democracy
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2826
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Like water, large numbers of people are harder to corrupt than a few
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2823
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The many may add up to something good, even if they are inferior as individuals
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22567
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Democracy arises when people who are given equal freedom assume unconditional equality
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22560
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Popular leaders only arise in democracies that are not in accord with the law
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22562
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Choosing officials by lot is democratic
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24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / d. Representative democracy
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22576
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No office is permanent in a democracy
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22533
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If the people are equal in nature, then they should all share in ruling
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2817
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It is wrong that a worthy officer of state should seek the office
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24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / e. Democratic minorities
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22549
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In many cases, the claim that the majority is superior would apply equally to wild beasts
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24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / f. Against democracy
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22575
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Ultimate democracy is tyranny
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24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / e. Liberal community
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22531
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We aim to understand the best possible community for free people
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24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 7. Communitarianism / a. Communitarianism
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22589
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Citizens do not just own themselves, but are also parts of the city
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22585
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Look at all of the citizens before judging a city to be happy
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22564
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Community is based on friends, who are equal and similar, and share things
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22565
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The best communities rely on a large and strong middle class
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24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 8. Socialism
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22534
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People care less about what is communal, and more about what is their own
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24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 9. Communism
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22538
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Owning and sharing property communally increases disagreements
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22536
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There could be private land and public crops, or public land and private crops, or both public
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24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 12. Feminism
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22530
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Both women and children should be educated, as this contributes to a city's excellence
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25. Social Practice / A. Freedoms / 1. Slavery
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21358
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Natural slaves are those naturally belonging to another, or who can manage no more than labouring
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25. Social Practice / A. Freedoms / 6. Political freedom
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20092
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One principle of liberty is to take turns ruling and being ruled
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25. Social Practice / B. Equalities / 1. Grounds of equality
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2833
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Equality is obviously there to help people who do not get priority in the constitution
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2834
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It is always the weak who want justice and equality, not the strong
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2830
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We can claim an equal right to aristocratic virtue, as well as to wealth or freedom
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25. Social Practice / B. Equalities / 2. Political equality
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22550
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It is dreadful to neither give a share nor receive a share
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22568
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Faction is for inferiors to be equal, and equals to become superior
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22569
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The Heraeans replaced election with lot, to thwart campaigning
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25. Social Practice / B. Equalities / 4. Economic equality
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2814
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Phaleas proposed equality of property, provided there is equality of education
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22540
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Wealth could be quickly leveled by only the rich giving marriage dowries
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25. Social Practice / C. Rights / 1. Basis of Rights
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2828
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Law is intelligence without appetite
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25. Social Practice / C. Rights / 4. Property rights
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22537
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Property should be owned privately, but used communally
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25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 1. Basis of justice
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2825
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The good is obviously justice, which benefits the whole community, and involves equality in some sense
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22573
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The virtue of justice may be relative to a particular constitution
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22527
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Justice is the order in a political community
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22547
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Justice is equality for equals, and inequality for unequals
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25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 2. The Law / a. Legal system
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22556
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Laws that match people's habits are more effective than mere written rules
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2806
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Man is the worst of all animals when divorced from law and justice
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2816
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If it is easy to change the laws, that makes them weaker
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25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 2. The Law / b. Rule of law
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22551
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Correct law should be in control, with rulers only deciding uncertain issues
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22554
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It is said that we should not stick strictly to written law, as it is too vague
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2827
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It is preferable that law should rule rather than any single citizen
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25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 2. Religion in Society
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2840
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The whole state should pay for the worship of the gods
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25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 5. Education / a. Aims of education
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2811
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A state is plural, and needs education to make it a community
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22588
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A city has a single end, so education must focus on that, and be communal, not private
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2847
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The aim of serious childhood play is the amusement of the complete adult
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25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 5. Education / c. Teaching
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2842
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Men learn partly by habit, and partly by listening
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25. Social Practice / F. Life Issues / 3. Abortion
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2844
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Abortions should be procured before the embryo has acquired life and sensation
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26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 2. Natural Purpose / a. Final purpose
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2809
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If nature makes everything for a purpose, then plants and animals must have been made for man
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26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 2. Natural Purpose / b. Limited purposes
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2800
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The best instruments have one purpose, not many
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28. God / A. Divine Nature / 2. Divine Nature
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2836
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God is not blessed and happy because of external goods, but because of his own nature
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28. God / C. Attitudes to God / 4. God Reflects Humanity
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2802
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Men imagine gods to be of human shape, with a human lifestyle
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