As we noted before, at the time Aristotle wrote there was no Greek Nation per se. There were many independent City-States, and while they shared a common language and a common religion, they were as often at war with each other as they were in alliance with each other. No two City -States were the same. Athens and Sparta were the most prominent, and can be taken as representative of the polar extremes. It is useful to compare these, remembering that Athens created “democratic” government. Sparta had a different set of virtues: what were they? The United States has affinities with both. There are a number of university towns named Athens, and many athletic teams named the Spartans. It was Athens, however, in which the philosophical foundations of democracy were most vigorously investigated. Amongst the investigators was the philosopher, Aristotle.
We’ll devote this class to examining some of the ideas in the selection from Aristotle’s Politics. You’ll notice that Aristotle tries to be very precise in the way he uses words. This means that we have to pay some attention to his definitions. The first of these is the idea of Citizen. How does Aristotle use this term? Second, we need to understand why Aristotle argues that there is a difference between being a good citizen and being a good man. Aristotle says, “Hence it is evident that the good citizen need not of necessity possess the virtue which makes a good man.” How does he reason his way to this? Do you agree or disagree with him? Write down your thoughts when you mark up your file, using sticky notes and the other adobe tools, as usual
To understand this difference it might be helpful to think of modern situations in which good persons found them in conflict with their governments. We will study several of these situations this semester.
Click the picture to read a
very Aristotelian story
What is so Aristotelian about it?
No true-to-life representation of Aristotle has been found. The Renaissance treated him as a near-diety as the image to the left suggests. The 20th century is less reverent: On the right, Aristotle is pictured giving a lecture to his prize student, Alexander the Great. Click on the illustrations for more information
We’ll need to examine the role Aristotle sees for the average person in an ideal government. To understand this, it is helpful to think about the general shape of Aristotle’s thought. Aristotle is a great believer in moderation or the middle way. For him, the right course of action (virtue) falls between two extremes, either of which is wrong (vice). Since his time, much of western thinking follows this scheme of things. As evidence for this assertion, rehearse the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Consequently, Aristotle is suspicious of pure democracy and pure oligarchy, aristocracy, timocracy, or tyranny. So he looks for some system which incorporates the virtues of each while avoiding the vices of each.
Roger Williams’ Letter to the Town of Providence is most often seen as a plea for freedom of conscience, and it certainly does make a powerful statement in that regard. Notice, however, that along with a strong regard for the rights of individual freedoms, Williams offers some guidelines regarding an individual’s responsibilities to the community, as well. The metaphor Williams uses is one which sailors would all understand. We’ll see if we can fathom it out as well. Did you figure out what Roger Williams Borrowed. You may see a little similarity to the ideas of Kant as well as Aristotle. Though the borrowing isn't as direct.
God requireth not an uniformity of Religion to be enacted and unforced in any civill state...true civility and Christianity may both flourish in a state or Kingdome, notwithstanding the permission of divers and contrary consciences, either of Jew or Gentile.
Roger Williams
Learn a Little More. . . .
No reliable likeness of Roger Williams has been found. His exact birth and death dates are also not known. What we see is an idealized vision based upon the artist's attitude toward the subject. Click on the statue of Roger Williams to the left and find out about his importance in the history of religious freedom and freedom of conscience in this country.
Roger Williams works to settle a dispute in his colony. Click upon the image to read about the Verin Case
History and the Modern World
