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AristotleAristotle
Maria Rusiniak
BiographyBiography
Aristotle lived from 384 BC – 322 BCAristotle lived from 384 BC – 322 BC Born in Stagira of Macedonia, Greece, Born in Stagira of Macedonia, Greece,
in 384 BCin 384 BC He study under the philosopher Plato He study under the philosopher Plato
for 20 years in Athens, starting when for 20 years in Athens, starting when he was eighteen years old (Plato was he was eighteen years old (Plato was sixty)sixty)
In 335 BC he opened his own school In 335 BC he opened his own school Lyceum (teaching logic, metaphysics, Lyceum (teaching logic, metaphysics, theology, history, politics, ethics, theology, history, politics, ethics, aesthetics, astronomy, meteorology, aesthetics, astronomy, meteorology, physics, and chemistry)physics, and chemistry)
Aristotle also tutored Alexander the Aristotle also tutored Alexander the Great while he served in MacedoniaGreat while he served in Macedonia
Aristotle was a “polymath” – he knew Aristotle was a “polymath” – he knew a great deal about very subject. He a great deal about very subject. He only did not excel at mathematics, only did not excel at mathematics, while Plato was a master of geometrywhile Plato was a master of geometry
Aristotle argued that knowledge Aristotle argued that knowledge came from experience, whereas came from experience, whereas Plato believe man was born with Plato believe man was born with knowledge.knowledge.
Natural LawNatural Law
Aristotle saw law as a type of justice, in Aristotle saw law as a type of justice, in defining natural law he wrote defining natural law he wrote “Universal law is the law of nature. For “Universal law is the law of nature. For there really is, as every one to some there really is, as every one to some extent divines, a natural justice and extent divines, a natural justice and injustice that is binding on all men, injustice that is binding on all men, even on those who have no association even on those who have no association or covenant with each other.” Natural or covenant with each other.” Natural therefore defines what is inherently therefore defines what is inherently just. just.
Aristotle also thought that it is Aristotle also thought that it is necessary to make a complete necessary to make a complete classification of just and unjust classification of just and unjust actions, and this is done by observing actions, and this is done by observing ones actions that can be defined ones actions that can be defined relatively to two kinds of law, positive relatively to two kinds of law, positive and natural law.and natural law.
Aristotle defined his positive Aristotle defined his positive (particular) law, “particular law is that (particular) law, “particular law is that which each community lays down and which each community lays down and applies to its own members: this is applies to its own members: this is partly written and partly unwritten.” partly written and partly unwritten.” Positive law is defined by the Positive law is defined by the community, its may be written or be a community, its may be written or be a social expectation.social expectation.
Aristotle’s Views on LawAristotle’s Views on Law
Plato saw two different accounts of Plato saw two different accounts of law: one, an imperfect, man-made law: one, an imperfect, man-made set of rules made for the purpose of set of rules made for the purpose of peaceful coexistence, and the other peaceful coexistence, and the other a divine order encoded into human a divine order encoded into human law by individuals with a privileged law by individuals with a privileged access to the divine worldaccess to the divine world
Aristotle found it important to ground Aristotle found it important to ground law into a divine, natural lawlaw into a divine, natural law
Aristotle wrote, “he who commands Aristotle wrote, “he who commands that law should rule may thus be that law should rule may thus be regarded as commanding that God regarded as commanding that God and reason alone should rule; He who and reason alone should rule; He who commands that a man should rule commands that a man should rule adds the character of the beast. adds the character of the beast. Appetite has that character; and high Appetite has that character; and high spirit, too, perverts the holders of spirit, too, perverts the holders of office, even when they are the best of office, even when they are the best of men. Law [as the pure voice of God men. Law [as the pure voice of God and reason] may thus be defined as and reason] may thus be defined as ‘reason free from all passion’ ”‘reason free from all passion’ ”
Aristotle believed that legislators were Aristotle believed that legislators were not obligated to copy any ideal, but not obligated to copy any ideal, but they were to articulate more particular they were to articulate more particular and concrete terms, distinguishing and concrete terms, distinguishing between theoretical and practical between theoretical and practical reasonreason
According to Aristotle the business of According to Aristotle the business of making laws were a practical activity, making laws were a practical activity, and the legislator had to attend to the and the legislator had to attend to the human world. The activity of legislating human world. The activity of legislating is not concerned with the unchanging is not concerned with the unchanging truth, rather, with the interpreting it for truth, rather, with the interpreting it for a particular circumstancea particular circumstance
Not all law is a direct encoding of Not all law is a direct encoding of order; there is still a need for practical order; there is still a need for practical wisdom in using these laws for wisdom in using these laws for particular circumstancesparticular circumstances
Aristotle implies that men have a Aristotle implies that men have a moral duty to obey well-executed moral duty to obey well-executed laws, and properly disobey the laws laws, and properly disobey the laws that are not rooted in the rational that are not rooted in the rational orderorder
However, Aristotle says that every However, Aristotle says that every man has a right to disobey a law man has a right to disobey a law when he finds that it conflicts with when he finds that it conflicts with ‘natural law’‘natural law’
The PolisThe Polis
While Plato defined a polis as an While Plato defined a polis as an association created by law, a association created by law, a collective body of people who are collective body of people who are governed by a common set of rules, governed by a common set of rules, Aristotle believed a simple agreement Aristotle believed a simple agreement to a set of rules is not enough to make to a set of rules is not enough to make a polisa polis
It is a common set of rules, but its the It is a common set of rules, but its the goal or purpose the association and its goal or purpose the association and its rules are working toward that rules are working toward that characterize Aristotle's beliefs. characterize Aristotle's beliefs.
Aristotle believed in a instrumental Aristotle believed in a instrumental view of law, and the polis as a view of law, and the polis as a association united under the association united under the common goal of achieving the ‘good common goal of achieving the ‘good life.’ A set of non-instrumental rules life.’ A set of non-instrumental rules not directing the populace toward a not directing the populace toward a common goal would make the polis common goal would make the polis no different than a alliance among its no different than a alliance among its participantsparticipants
Political SystemsPolitical Systems
Aristotle believed Aristotle believed in three different in three different levels of proper levels of proper government: government: kingship, kingship, aristocracy, and aristocracy, and politypolity
Kingship is when Kingship is when one person rulesone person rules
Aristocracy is when Aristocracy is when the best rulethe best rule
Polity is when the Polity is when the masses rulemasses rule
Forms of Forms of GovernmentGovernment
Proper Proper CounterfeitCounterfeit
Kingship TyrannyKingship TyrannyAristocracy OligarchyAristocracy OligarchyPolity Polity
DemocracyDemocracy
Present Day InfluencePresent Day Influence
Aristotle was the founder of formal logicAristotle was the founder of formal logic He pioneered the study of zoologyHe pioneered the study of zoology Because of Aristotle's work humans have Because of Aristotle's work humans have
with success analyzed and understood with success analyzed and understood the operating principles behind every the operating principles behind every aspect of human life, and applied this aspect of human life, and applied this knowledge in beneficial waysknowledge in beneficial ways
Aristotle also created a government Aristotle also created a government which influenced what is used in today’s which influenced what is used in today’s societysociety
Work CitedWork CitedAll About Alexander the GreatAll About Alexander the Great. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2011. . N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2011.
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Miller, Fred D, Jr. Miller, Fred D, Jr. Nature, Justice, and Rights in Aristole’s Nature, Justice, and Rights in Aristole’s PoliticsPolitics. N.p.: Oxford University Press, 1995. Print.. N.p.: Oxford University Press, 1995. Print.
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Society For Aristotelian StudiesSociety For Aristotelian Studies. N.p., 2010. Web. 25 Feb. . N.p., 2010. Web. 25 Feb. 2011. <http://www.aristotle-aquinas.org/>.2011. <http://www.aristotle-aquinas.org/>.