Aristotle's quote about the state remains relevant to this day

Aristotle is one of the most influential names in philosophy. Apprentice of Plato, departed from the teachings of his teacher and created his own school, Aristotle was the main teacher of Alexander the Great, and his ideas influenced the political activities of Macedon. The beginning of several modern sciences, such as political science and sociology, was laid by Aristotle, whose quotes and aphorisms are still relevant.

Biography

The future great philosopher was born in 384 BC. E. His father, Nikomakh (after whom Aristotle called his son and, probably, the volume of his ethics), worked as a king's physician at the Macedonian court. The position of the father determined the early acquaintance of Aristotle with Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander. Philip stood at the foundation of the heyday of the Macedonian state, which fell just on the childhood and youth of Aristotle.

In his early youth, Aristotle was left without a father, but at the same time he received a rich inheritance, which allowed the young man not to interrupt his education. Two years later, Aristotle moved to Athens and joined the Platonic school. He was a disciple, companion and friend of Plato for twenty years, despite the fact that in many ways he did not agree with his teacher.

After the death of Plato, Aristotle left Athens, married and became a teacher of Alexander the Great until his 18th birthday. Despite his services to the polis and the creation of his own philosophical school, Aristotle remained a citizen of Macedonia and was forced to leave the Greek policy after Alexander's death. The philosopher himself died a year after his famous pupil.

Philosophy of Aristotle

In addition to the fact that Aristotle developed ethics and became the founder of formal logic, having created a conceptual apparatus, actual to this day, he also became the only philosopher of the classical period who created the philosophical system. All spheres of human life - ontology, religion, sociology, politics, physics, logic and even the origin of species affected Aristotle in their work. Quotations about life, taken from his collections or the memories of his disciples and associates, reflect his wisdom and profound knowledge in various fields.

Aristotle singled out theoretical sciences - those that give only knowledge. These include physics, metaphysics, theology and mathematics. Ethics and politics - practical sciences; The knowledge gained from their study can be applied in activities. A special influence on modern philosophy was provided by Aristotle's ideas about the state. In fact, he became the ancestor of sociology and political science.

Ideas and quotations of Aristotle about the state

Aristotle was an individualist and zealously opposed the ideas of Plato about the ideal structure of the state. The ideal arrangement of the policy, according to Plato, was "communal." It was supposed to be a community of everything - from material goods to wives and children. Aristotle said that communism and polygamy destroy the state. On the basis of disagreements, Aristotle's famous quotation "Plato is my friend, but truth is more precious" appeared, which in the original sounded a little more complicated.

Aristotle was an adherent of private property, slavery and monogamy, while he considered the social position of certain layers of the state to be lower, for example, slaves, the poor and women. The desire of man to live in society and justified the creation of a family first, then a community, and later a state. However, being a citizen means putting the state above the family and the community.

Origin and nature of the state

Aristotle adhered to the historical theory of the creation of the state. According to his ideas, the beginning of the state system was the nature of man - a social being, requiring communication. The desire of a person to live is not just comfortable, but happily determines his desire for socialization. According to Aristotle, a person who does not need communication is either an animal or a deity.

To achieve basic needs that can not be achieved alone, people - men and women - have come together in families. Families began to live closer together, forming communities. There was a division of labor, a system of exchange and slavery. Subsequently, these communities grew and evolved into the state. Aristotle's quote about the social nature of man sounds like this: "A person who is unable or unwilling to live in society is either an animal or God, for he alone is enough."

Aristotle compares the state with the human body, in which each part of the body, each organ performs its individual function: head, hands, heart, etc. Hence Aristotle's citation of governance: "A person has one head, and the state should have one ruler ". The idea of a single organism makes the philosopher believe in the need for certain freedoms and rights of the individual, as well as the division of power into branches. On the rejection of tyranny, Aristotle's quotation says that most tyrants are demagogues, and they are incapable of anything other than to ruin their own state by too strict laws and ceaseless control.