Single Idea 22564

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 7. Communitarianism / a. Communitarianism]

Full Idea

Community is fitted to friendship, since enemies do not wish to share even a road in common. But a city tends to consist as much as possible of people who are equal and similar, which especially holds of those in the middle.

Gist of Idea

Community is based on friends, who are equal and similar, and share things

Source

Aristotle (Politics [c.332 BCE], 1295b24)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Politics', ed/tr. Reeve,C.D.C. [Hackett 2017], p.98


A Reaction

The surprising emphasis on friendship in 'Ethics' turns out to have great importance in 'Politics'. Friendship is the cement of a community, and the constitution must maximise good conditions for friendships.

Related Idea

Idea 22563 The middle classes are neither ambitious nor anarchic, which is good [Aristotle]