The philosopher suggests that these rankings reflect the hierarchies found in nature. He begins by examining the household and moves the lens slowly outward to see how the hierarchies found in cities reflect the hierarchical structure of family.

In Book 1, Aristotle asserts that humans are political creatures who naturally form governing bodies. However, his philosophies also reflect the moral attitudes of the fourth century BCE: The philosopher’s determination of who should and should not be allowed at the political table is limited, with nature used as a rationale for excluding certain groups. The philosopher argues that humans are political by nature and that politics can be harnessed to contribute to the common good. Throughout the work, Aristotle proposes that political constitutions should reflect and support the aim of the individual life: to promote happiness through virtuous action. Aristotle’s approach is built upon three major themes: The Political Nature of Man, Politics as a Pathway for Good and Happiness, and Political Hierarchies as Natural Forms of Subjugation. Politics discusses foundational concepts such as the different types of government, the best form of governing bodies, the qualifications for citizenship, and the principles of education. Although Barker’s translation includes chapter groupings, the Bekker section numbers are most used when referencing the work. Stalley, who studied Classics and Philosophy at Oxford. The work is translated by Ernest Barker, a former Professor of Political Science at Cambridge and Principal of King’s College London, and includes an introduction by R. This guide uses the 2009 translation published by Oxford University Press.

Aristotle politics books