POLC70H3 Chapter : Response Paper Topic.docx
Document Summary
Aristotle"s concept of citizenship in book iii of the politics is remarkable for the categories of people he excludes, rather than includes, from membership in the political community. Here too there is no unanimity, no agreement as to what constitutes a citizen; it often happens that one who is a citizen in a democracy is not a citizen an oligarchy (aristotle, Nor does mere residence in a place confer citizenship: resident foreigners and slaves are not citizens, but do share domicile in the country (aristotle, the politics, iii. i, 1275a2). What we are looking for is the citizen proper, without any defect needing to be amended (aristotle, the politics, iii. i, 1275a22). What effectively distinguishes the citizen proper from all others is his participation in giving judgment and in holding office (aristotle, the politics, iii. i, 1275a22). Aristotle reasons for a person should be excluded:
