POLS 2900 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Aristocracy, Oligarchy, Grater
25 Jun 2018
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Aristotle – The Politics
What constitution is more practical? Better for citizens
Political science talks about what is
Philosophers talk about what is and what ought to be
Man and woman coming together and having children and creating a household - creation of the polis
Site of material as well as social reproduction
People that are concerned with living - not living well
Money gratifies all appetites
Message - greed is bad. It corrupts
Ideal Polis
Considers the caliphilus - plato
Different kinds of cities
-Examining their elements
BOOK 3
Explanation of citizenship
Concludes with detailed examinations of constitutions: Oligarchy and Democracy
BOOK 4
Move from theory to practice
Close look at actually existing cities
Which constitution is best in theory
*Which is the most practicable
BOOK 2
Which is the best for the people (who want to live the best possible life)
Calipilis
Plato - all about unity
Aristotle - city needs different kinds of people doing different tasks
Not enough diversity to make the city work
Sociological “glue” has been dissolved in modern american society
Temperance and Generosity
Reason, Rule, Spirit and Appetite
Controlled by reason - operate in a way to enhance our well being
Aristotle on Citizenship
Theory of the polis
What makes someone a citizen
Birthright?
Citizen shares in the administration of justice and the holding of office
Citizenship requires citizens to be politically active
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Citizenship & Civic Participation
November 2
Different types of cities have different definitions of “good”
Good citizen does not equal good person
Good citizens are not always called upon to be good persons - their roles as citizens will refrain them
from being the best type of person
Good person - good virtue - from THE ETHICS
Need the polis - the city - to be able to attempt to live the best possible life
Only politically active citizens have the opportunity to live a truly good life
Aristotle - excludes vulgar craftsmen, labourers, women and slaves
Citizenship definition very different from Plato
Constitutions can be right or wrong
Common interest in survival
Common interest in sharing a truly good life
Wrong constitutions - serving a bad ruler
Good and bad constitutions have 3 variations each
Original 6 fold typology
!
King - person of superior virtue
Class is important to Aristotle
Connects the purpose to which the polis exists
For a truly good life
Government devoted to one vs many - depends on who is the ruler
Universal agreement on what justice demands
Equals be treated equally and unequals unequally
Oligarchs and democrats use wealth as a marker - estates the nature of civic equality - amount that one
contributes to the city - not amount of property
It is about virtue - promotion of eudemonia in the city
Not because they define justice differently - because they define virtue differently
Kingship and Aristocracy
Monopoly on holding office
RIGHT CONSTITUTION (Interest of all)
WRONG CONSTITUTION (Own self interest)
King
Tyrant
Aristocracy
Oligarchy
Polity
Demos
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Philosophers talk about what is and what ought to be. Man and woman coming together and having children and creating a household - creation of the polis. Site of material as well as social reproduction. People that are concerned with living - not living well. Concludes with detailed examinations of constitutions: oligarchy and democracy. Which is the best for the people (who want to live the best possible life) Aristotle - city needs different kinds of people doing different tasks. Not enough diversity to make the city work. Sociological glue has been dissolved in modern american society. Controlled by reason - operate in a way to enhance our well being. Citizen shares in the administration of justice and the holding of of ce. Different types of cities have different de nitions of good . Good citizens are not always called upon to be good persons - their roles as citizens will refrain them from being the best type of person.
