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More on Aristotle

More on Aristotle On Google Fordham University has a number of documents on Aristotle, Athens, and the Greeks. Go to Ancient History Sourcebook: Aristotle on the Lacedaemonian Constitution 340 BCE Fordham University The Lacedaemonians were the Spartans of the city-state of Sparta. In the third paragraph, Aristotle remarks on how some have said that the best constitution (polity) is a combination of the three forms – monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy; “ Some, indeed, say that the best constitution is a combination of all existing forms, and they praise the Lacedaemonian because it is made up of oligarchy, monarchy, and democracy, the king forming the monarchy, and the council of elders the oligarchy while the democratic element is represented by the Ephors; for the Ephors are selected from the people. Others, however, declare the Ephoralty to be a tyranny, and find the element of democracy in the common meals and in the habits of daily life. [In Sparta the wome
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The Complete Works of Aristotle: excerpts

The Complete Works of Aristotle: The Revised Oxford Translation, Edited by Jonathan Barnes, vol 2, Politics Book 1 “ Every state is a community of some kind, and every community is established with a view to some good; for everyone always acts in order to obtain that which they think good. But, if all communities aim at some good, the state or political community, which is the highest of all, and which embraces all the rest, aims at good in a great degree than any other, and at the highest good.” p. 1986 “ ...when several families are united, and the association aims at something more than the supply of daily needs, the first society to be formed is the village...when several villages are united in a single complete community, large enough to be nearly or quite self-sufficing , the state comes into existence, originating in the bare needs of life, and continuing in existence for the sake of a good life...And therefore, if the earlier forms of society are natural, so is t
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Aristotle

Unit One – Question Two – Part Two 2017-2018 “ Greek and roman history has revealed that thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, and Cicero thought that although democracies may begin well, they tend to end in tyranny. What was Aristotle's thinking about different forms of government? Which did he prefer, and how might his ideas have influenced the Framers of the Constitution? In what ways, if any, does our government reflect Aristotle's idea of a “polity?” How are the ideas of classical republicanism and natural rights philosophy reflected in our government? Some background information on Aristotle - He was born in 384 BCE (before the common era) and died in 322 BCE. He was born on the northern edge of classical Greece in Stagira. Look it up on google maps. His father was a physician who served King Amytas of Macedon. His father died when Aristotle was young. At the age of 18 he came to Athens (look it up on google maps) and studied for twenty years in Plat
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