Aristotle

1
Aristotles Views on Plato and Property

• PHIL 2011
• 2006-07

2
Reprise of Republic class and property system

• Two classes
• Warriors
• Husbandmen, craftsmen, and all others we do not
  know how property is organized (2.5)
• Warrior class produces the philosopher-kings
• All members of this class subject to community
  property requirement
• Actual states such as Sparta and Crete had common
  meals provided for by product of public or
  private landsAristotle approves of this.

3
Property Regime Options
4
Private families, common property (2.5)?
5
Aristotles view of human nature

• surely the love of self is a feeling implanted
  nature, and not given in vain nature does
  nothing in vain.
• What is Platos view of human nature?
• Helpful hint a political philosophers view of
  HN is often the key to his philosophy!

6
Is Aristotle promotingAltruism? If so, how?

• Friendswill have all things common
• It is clearly better that property should be
  private, but the use of it common
• Spartans allow fellow-citizens use of their
  slaves, dogs and horses!
• there is the greatest pleasure in doing a
  kindness or service to friendswhich can only be
  rendered when a man has private property.
• the special business of the legislator
  law-giver is to create in men this benevolent
  disposition.

7
Liberality depends on private property!

• What is liberality?
• An important Aristotelian virtue, also called
  magnanimity
• It means generosity
• So to be generous we need to have something of
  our own to give!
• Consider the case of charity to assist people in
  need
• Versus use of public monies
• Is one way better than the other?

8
Regulation of Property

• Many constitutions recognized influence of
  property on society
• No one else has imitated Plato community of
  women and children
• Laws of Solon prohibited unlimited property
• Phaleas of Chalcedon equality of possessions
• Easier in colonies
• Not very feasible in established states
• But Lycurgus equalized property at Sparta!

9
Property-Population Connection (2.6)

• If property to be regulated
• Population must also be regulated scientifically
• Using actuarial methods child mortality and
  sterility rates of couples!
• Why?
• Some ancient legislators thought number of
  families should remain unchanged
• Aristotle in Book 7 a city may decide to
  regulate population, even by abortion.

10
Why is Inequality a problem?

• Platos two cities of the rich and the poor
• Class war
• Injustice some in want, while others luxuriate
  in riches
• But equality can also be unjust if parcels are
  not sufficient to sustain the possessor!

11
Moderation in equalization (2.7)

• If properties equal, they should be of moderate
  size
• Rich should not be made poor, for they will cause
  revolutions
• The real issue is not property size, but mens
  desires
• How are these to be regulated?
• By education!

12
Todays Question

• On page 36, Aristotle suggested that property
  should be in a certain sense, common but as a
  general rule, private. But then he suggested that
  there will be more quarrels when people have
  private property than when people have all in
  common. Do you think it is a strong argument
  against private property, and do you think it is
  a viable option to share all in common (wives,
  children, property, education, honor) within a
  state? Why and Why not?
• Things to consider degree of unity,
  individualism at that time, self-sufficiency for
  a state, distribution of property among all
  citizens in a state.