Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote on a variety of topics. The millennial generation views his opinions as being definitive in many spheres. However, his contributions to politics and morality continue to have an impact on both the present and the future. His ideas about the ideal way of living are among his most important contributions to ethics. Aristotle claimed that as people get older, they become less aimless and develop a sense of purpose for their lives. They come up with a life plan that incorporates all of their objectives. Aristotle states that the end of human life is to live well. Flourish and have a good life. As such, all actions of human beings should aim for this course. However, since different people have different definitions of having a good life, Aristotle stated that there are two types of desires, natural and acquired desires (Chapter 9a).
Natural needs are the real desires which are suitable for a person whether they want them or not. They are known as real goods as they are similar to all individuals since they are human needs which people cannot do without. Acquired desires, on the other hand, are different between individuals since they are the wants also known as apparent goods. As such, Aristotle stated that the best type of life consists of the possessions over the course of a life which are useful for individuals. The good thing in one person is also suitable for another thus creating the right plan for living well. According to Aristotle, human beings live well by accumulating the real goods that correspond to their natural needs over their lifetime. However, cultivating good habits in conjunction with good luck enhances the chances of living a good life. The best life should comprise of goods of the body, external goods, and goods of the soul. The best life is a life full of virtue which means that it has sufficient external goods to perform good deeds and actions.
Question 2: What features of Aristotle’s ideal polis afford full citizens the opportunity to lead this type of life?
According to Aristotle, the aim of living in a community is to attain the best life possible. The government and the political system has a huge role to play in ensuring that citizens are comfortable and happy. The political system must provide food for citizens. The political system needs to be powerful to maintain order in the society to prevent mistreatment of citizens. This will be crucial in enforcing their authority against external assailants and disobedient citizens. The system needs to have a source of revenue to finance the community for daily usage and in times of war. However, the most crucial role of the political system is the implementation of the law which will be used to safeguard the dealings among citizens and advocate for public policies. Aristotle provides that the political system should be structured in a manner that it can fulfill these functions (Chapter 10a).
As for Aristotle, the political system is required to nurture and develop the virtues of its citizens with the aim of ensuring they lead better lives. Adopting democracy will establish equity which provides that citizens have access to resources needed to live better lives. Democracy is essential in enhancing accountability in the political system since those in power are answerable to the people. This creates a justice system which is not corrupted by wealth in the implementation of the law. Leaders are prosecuted for their mismanagement of public resources meant for the average citizen. Aristotle provides that this will keep them honest and ensure they act according to the requirements of the democracy. Justice and fairness in the society are vital in enhancing the lives of citizens enabling them to have better lives.
Question 3: How does the education of the citizens in Aristotle’s ideal polis prepare them to lead this type of life?
The issue of education is an important concern for Aristotle. According to Aristotle, education is so crucial that it should not be left to individual families, but it should be standardized for the entire city to create standard training for all students. Having a conventional education will shape every citizen in ensuring they serve for the common good of the city. Aristotle states that education needs to involve both the body and the mind. This education aims to instill practical knowledge in citizens that will enable them to perform their duties to obtain a good life (Chapter 14a).
In the book, Aristotle provides that the education system should be concerned with educating its citizens to endure the nature of the political system. It must educate them on how to interpret the law, pay taxes and interact according since these are the elements of a good citizen. This will also provide the political system with a chance to serve their people and provide them with resources needed to live a good life.
References
"Aristotle: Politics: Book 7." Constitution.Org, 2017, http://www.constitution.org/ari/polit_07.htm.
