Aristotle's Philosophy of the City and Governance

Aristotle's Political Philosophy: The Polis and Governance

This analysis delves into two core theses regarding Aristotle's political philosophy, as presented in the original text. First, it examines the assertion that the city (polis) is the supreme community, formed to achieve a superior good. Second, it explores the fundamental, qualitative difference Aristotle posits between the governance of the polis and that of other communities.

Justifying Aristotle's Theses

Aristotle's first thesis, concerning the city as the supreme community, is built upon two foundational premises:

• The city is a community.
• All communities aim to achieve some good.

This implies that individuals associate to gain something, even when forming a city. Aristotle extends this idea, asserting that the city is the supreme community because it encompasses all others, such as families or household communities. Consequently, the good pursued by the city is also the superior good compared to the goods of other associations.

The second thesis elaborates on the distinction between the city and other communities, explicitly rejecting the notion that this difference is merely quantitative. Aristotle argues that these realities differ in kind, not just by their size or scale. If his opponents were correct, then household rule, a domain, a city, or a kingdom would be fundamentally the same. However, Aristotle asserts that this is not the case. He distinguishes between a king who rules by personal whim and a political ruler who governs according to established standards and laws.

A Note on Aristotle's Concept of Politics

It is important to note that Aristotle here advocates for a specific idea of politics and the governance of the polis. Consequently, the rule of a king like Philip or Alexander, while powerful, does not strictly align with Aristotle's concept of political rule, which emphasizes governance by established norms rather than personal decree.

Key Tenets of Aristotle's Political Philosophy

To synthesize the core arguments, consider the following points:

• The city is a community, and every community seeks a good. Therefore, the city seeks a good.
• The city encompasses other communities. Therefore, the city is the greater community, and the good it seeks is the superior good.
• There is a difference in kind, not merely in quantity, between the city and other communities. Thus, household rule, a domain, a city, or a kingdom are not fundamentally the same.
• The distinction between a king and a political ruler is not simply that the king's will is law. Rather, the political ruler governs according to established norms, participating in a system where they are both ruler and ruled.