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(out of 3 reviews)
Politics by Aristotle
Product Description
Twenty-three centuries after its compilation, “The Politics” still has much to contribute to this central question of political science. Aristotle’s thorough and carefully argued analysis is based on a study of over 150 city constitutions, covering a huge range of political issues in order to establish which types of constitution are best – both ideally and in particular circumstances – and how they may be maintained. Aristotle’s opinions form an essential backgroun… More >>
January 18th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
Some monumental observations considering the time it was written. But a very difficult read that requires concentration and will-power to finish.
No-one has ever accused philosophy of being practical.
Rating: 2 / 5
January 18th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
In this book Aristotle discussed different kind of state and what would lead to corruption of a state. Aristotle believed no one should rise against their state. Every one had to remian submissive toward state.
Rating: 5 / 5
January 18th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
I began my study of political philosophy with the best – namely Plato – so I suppose that when I began reading Aristotle’s The Politics, I was optimistic. That optimism didn’t last. I find that Aristotle takes many arguments for granted and ignores entirely others that would call into question some of his premises. Often while reading The Politics, I found his analysis entirely lackluster, and his criticisms of The Republic, Gorgias and Laws (all by Plato) flawed or at least overly simplistic. It’s not that I’m incapable of appreciating the brand of philosophy Aristotle uses, after all I do consider myself more or less a realist. But rather I did find it lacking of vision and insight. Aristotle focuses on such parochial matters such as classifications of constitutions and mastery over slaves in the household versus statesmanship in the nation, that it never moved me or left me in deeply pensive state. Ultimately, if you want to be truly inspired – read Plato, not Aristotle.
Rating: 2 / 5
January 18th, 2010 at 10:10 pm
Aristotle was one of the greatest men that has lived on Earth, and his contributions are numerous, however, I found this book to drone on and on about the types of government…I had to put it down, because I was so bored. If it gets better later in the book, please let me know.
Rating: 3 / 5
January 18th, 2010 at 11:25 pm
In “Politics” Aristotle states that a democracy should be fully participatory and that it’s goal should be the common good of society. Aristotle posits that to achieve this “common good”, society must ensure relative equality, “moderate and sufficient property” and “lasting prosperity” for everyone.
What Aristotle was saying was that if any society has an extreme discrepency of wealthy citizens versus poor, any discussion of democracy is hyperbole. For true democracy to happen, skewed extremes of wealth and poverty must be eliminated – creating an egalitarian society based on equality of condition where the wealthy minority cannot use their power to subjugate the poor.
Aristotle also posited that in a perfect democracy which contained a wealthy minority and a poor majority, the poor would use their democratic rights to appropriate property from the wealthy. For Aristotle, this was unjust and to alleviate this possible situation he proposed two solutions: reducing poverty (which is what Aristotle advocated) or reducing deomcracy (which epitomizes the “democratic” society we live in today).
“The Politics” is an illuminating and penetrating discourse on democracy and holds many valuable lessons for constructive social action.
Rating: 5 / 5