Man is by Nature a Political AnimalCitizenship: Introduction to Politics

About the Unit

•In the Introduction to Politics Unit we will be exploring the following questions:

•Why do we have a government?

•What are conservative politics?

•What are liberal politics?

Purpose of Life• According to Aristotle:

• The purpose of our lives is to lead a “good life” (basic needs met, happy, etc.)

• People come together to form households, households come together to make up villages and cities, cities come together to make up states, and nations.

• If organized intelligently our cities, states, and nations in order to promote living “good lives.”

Aristotle

Ancient GreekPhilosopher

The Good Life

Basic Needs Met(Food, Clothing, Shelter)Happy in the company of

family and friends :)

People are organized into Households

Household are organized into cities, states, and

nations

If organized intelligently cities, states, and nations can promote living “good

lives.”

Man is by Nature a Political Animal

•According to Aristotle:

•Living in a society organized intelligently, such as a city, state, or nation, is what makes us human.

•Anybody who lives outside the city-state is either a beast or a god.

•Therefore, man is a political animal.

Living in an organized society (being political) is

what makes us human

Living in Society

Living outside of Society

Only bests and gods live outside of society

Man is a political animal

Summary

•According to Aristotle:

•The purpose of life is to lead a “good life” (basic needs met, be happy, etc.) If people organize themselves intelligently they can promote living the “good life.”

•Organizing themselves intelligently (being political) is unique to humans, therefore man is by nature a political animal.