Politics

Aristotle. Aristotelis Politica. Ross, William David, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1957 (printing).

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Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.

This work is a systematic treatise of political philosophy that investigates the nature of the "polis" (political community) as a cooperative body aiming at the highest good, alongside the optimal constitutions and educational systems to support it. The author, Aristotle, defines human beings as naturally "political animals" (zoon politikon) and begins his inquiry with the analysis of household management and citizenship. In the first half, he critically examines Plato's ideal state and existing historical constitutions, establishing that the ultimate goal of the state is not mere survival but "living well." In the middle section, he classifies various constitutions, such as democracy and oligarchy, while analyzing the causes of factional conflict and constitutional change, as well as the means to preserve them. Finally, the latter part constructs a blueprint for an ideal state based on the golden mean, concluding with a detailed program for public education, particularly through physical training and music, to cultivate the virtue of citizens.