Aristotle (384 to 322 BCE) treated politics as a practical science aimed at the good life of citizens, understanding the city-state (polis) as a community that exists for the sake of the good life. His Politics distinguished six constitutional forms by whether one, few, or many rule and whether they govern for the common advantage or their own benefit, and posed the founding question of whether it is better to be ruled by the best man or by the best laws, favoring law's generality and advance promulgation over the unpredictability of personal rule.
Facts
Classification
Political Role Connections
Founded
Aristotle's Politics posed the founding question of rule by law versus rule by the best man, favoring law's generality and advance promulgation over the unpredictability of personal rule.
Source Aristotle's Political Theory (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)Fred Miller
In the Other Atlases
Same As
Also in Philosophy Atlas: the same subject.
Sources
1. Aristotle - Wikipedia (Wikipedia)
intro: writings span 'philosophy...economics, politics'; founder of Peripatetic schoolView the Source 2. Aristotle's Political Theory (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.