Aristotelian Ethics and Political Systems

Ancient vs Modern Teleological Ethics

The difference between these two is that ancient teleological ethics are of an ethical character. For the Greeks, this stems from the virtue of individual beings; what was needed was to reach the height of one's own nobility. To the Greeks, all were equal at the start, and what differed was the degree of virtue attainment. Greek ethics sought perfection; it was good that a man successfully completed his own life and gave importance to character.

In contrast, modern teleological ethics qualify as consequentialist because the ultimate goal of our actions is not to improve character, but to improve coexistence and attach importance to the rule. These ethics relate to actions and judge what men do. Unlike the claims of modernity, this view supports that diversity is a gain for itself. They say we live to act.

Aristotle's Classification of Government

Aristotle divided forms of government based on quantity (one, few, or many) and quality (right or unjust).

Right Forms of Government

• Monarchy: A government by one that only seeks the common good.
• Aristocracy: A minority government formed by good men who seek the best for the city and its citizens.
• Republic (Politeia): The government of the majority that serves the public interest.

Unjust Forms of Government

• Tyranny: A government that serves only the interest of the monarch.
• Oligarchy: A government that serves the interests of the rich.
• Demagoguery: A government that aims particularly at the good of the poor.

Aristotelian Justice and Equality

Aristotle proposed the concept of proportional equality through two types of justice:

• Distributive Justice: The balance of goods and the distribution of burdens between different individuals within the same social collective. It provides compensation according to merits realized. The specification of what can be considered merit is an issue that every society must resolve.
• Commutative Justice: The balance of trade and exchange among citizens.

Aristotle believed that inequality exists, but the best form of government is the Politeia, where the middle class governs.