POL200Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Politeia, Tyrant, Oligarchy
Government is something that happens elsewhere
▪
Value individual freedom, embrace state - allows us to pursue
conception of good life
▪
Modern
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Deliberated - war / peace, punishment, political power
□
Polis: tight-knit, discusses, promotes good life, political
engagement is important
□
People are governing body
▪
Ancient
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Ancient / modern politics
Defining relation of political association
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Polis is geography, city is a political association
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Network of relationships --> define household / city
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Not just incidental relationship
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Must be kind of friendship
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Criticizes idea that citizenship cannot be defined by gen
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Politics is arena to express excellences
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Good human life --> realizing capacities for ethical and intellectual virtues
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Citizenship involves 2 activities
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Administration of justice - judge / jury - judgment
1.
Evaluation (sound judgment?) - important excellence
i.
Exercise of deliberation (about common good)
2.
Generic citizenship, not in relation to a regime
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Any other is unjust (typical citizen should not be considered)
▪
Best regime: aristocracy defined by virtue
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Evaluative / normative - judges good or not
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Some people hold office, but not because they are just
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Analytical
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Not just a status but activity of deliberating / judging of people who meet
requirements (birth / men)
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Citizenship
1 : arrangement of political offices
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1.1.25: aim / end / telos for which city is formed
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Citizens have to be organized - politeia (regime)
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Purpose of democracy = promote freedom - changes the way the city is ruled,
character of citizens
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'Enable citizens to live flourishing lives'
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Can criticize militarism as a goal --> not what an end should be
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End will determine distribution of power / resources
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They contribute most to the telos of the army
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Goal is victory, food, weapons, etc. Give to best fighter
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To understand politics, must understand institution and purpose it
serves
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3.9.105: 'just like liberal democracy - lacks capacity for goodness'
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Politics leads way of life (US --> maximize economic gains)
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People? --> they will die eventually
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What makes Athens Athens?
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Regime = form that gives shape and stable identity to a city
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If regime changes, it is a new city
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Regimes
Lecture 1.11: Aristotle, Politics, Books 3, 4.1-9
November 24, 2016
5:45 PM
LECTURE Page 30
Document Summary
Value individual freedom, embrace state - allows us to pursue conception of good life. Deliberated - war / peace, punishment, political power. Polis: tight-knit, discusses, promotes good life, political engagement is important. Polis is geography, city is a political association. Network of relationships --> define household / city. Criticizes idea that citizenship cannot be defined by gen. Good human life --> realizing capacities for ethical and intellectual virtues. Administration of justice - judge / jury - judgment. Generic citizenship, not in relation to a regime. Any other is unjust (typical citizen should not be considered) Evaluative / normative - judges good or not. Some people hold office, but not because they are just. Not just a status but activity of deliberating / judging of people who meet requirements (birth / men) Citizens have to be organized - politeia (regime) 1. 1. 25: aim / end / telos for which city is formed.
