Table of Contents
What type of government did Aristotle favor?
Aristotle considers constitutional government, in which the masses are granted citizenship and govern with everyone’s interest in mind, one of the best forms of government. It combines elements of oligarchy and democracy, finding a compromise between the demands of both the rich and the poor.
What did Aristotle use to support his theory?
Aristotle decided he could understand the world through observation and by using logic and reason. Later scientists called Aristotle the Father of Natural Science because centuries after the ancient scholar’s death, his methods formed the basis of the scientific method.
What are the contribution of Aristotle to political thought?
Aristotle described politics as a “practical science” because it deals with making citizens happy. His philosophy is to find the supreme purpose of life, virtue as he puts it. One of the most important roles of a politician, though, is to make laws, or constitutions.
Is democracy the best form of government for Aristotle?
For Aristotle, democracy is not the best form of government. As is also true of oligarchy and monarchy, rule in a democracy is for and by the people named in the government type.
Why is Aristotle so important to the world today?
By contrast, Aristotle, even more than Plato before him, was a political thinker who addressed all the major issues: education, equality, democracy, justice, war, peace, and social unrest. It is not least because of his interest in revolutions and uprisings that his philosophy is so relevant for present day politics and policy-making.
How does Aristotle define a peaceful political system?
To maintain a peaceful political system, then, Aristotle thinks that it is necessary to involve all the citizens, for political systems endure because those in power “treat those outside the constitution well” and they do so “by bringing their leading men into the constitution” (1308a).
What is a constitution according to Aristotle?
At last, Aristotle speaks about constitutions. According to him, the constitution is the order of the state regarding the government offices and the government. As in a democracy, many are part of the government, and in the oligarchy just a few, and in that lies the difference of the government and hence they are different constitutions.