3. Correct and incorrect form of government according to Aristotle

Theoretical construction of an ideal polis - the ultimate challenge that confronts an Aristotle in "Politics". It would have been justified in searching the threads that bind the perfect policy Aristotle Greek city of IV century BC, the external and internal conditions of their existence.

Of course, this does not exhaust the content of Aristotle's treatise connection with the era in which he lived. Discourse on the perfect, from the point of view of the author, the policy takes in the "Politics" a lot of space (seventh and eighth books; to this should be added the analysis of the theories of his predecessors and contemporaries in the second book). This argument is premised occupies much more space policy doctrine of all. Here we find the rationale for the idea that policy is the highest form of human association that contributes to a happy life, ie, life consonant with virtue; Here the concept of the policy is subject to the dismemberment of its simplest elements. Referring to the nature, unevenly, in his opinion, are distributed among people intelligence, Aristotle defends one of the foundations of ancient society - slavery. It also serves the defense of another abutment ancient society - private property, justifying it by the fact that the ownership requirement supposedly inherent human nature.

Aristotle concludes that the proposed projects to it, if they are implemented, will not provide the best life for citizens of the state.

Everywhere we see the author's desire to "politicians" to relate to the idea of ​​constructing a theoretical political reality and evaluate them in terms of the conditions and needs of the latter. Aristotle presents the author's claim of government projects can come up with different, but it should not offer anything obviously impracticable.

It provides a classification of forms of government on the basis of the power supplies to one, several or the whole nation, and each form may be correct, useful for the citizens of good and wrong, dangerous and harmful; the correct form of the monarchy is opposed to tyranny; aristocracy, oligarchy, polity - democracy. Having established generics state forms, making reference to the actually existing state, Aristotle recognizes the principle of separation of powers and, therefore, for two thousand years, sets the essential beginning of the modern constitutional state; Whatever the form of government, it will be beneficent for the people only if the activities of public authorities is not based on personal preferences of one or other of the rulers or officials, but on solid law.

Along with the analysis of the factual material in the "Politics" Aristotle there is another side-what we might call recommendations. Often the past is closely linked to the analytical part of the treatise, such as recommendations for measures to facilitate the conservation of this or that government. As for the recommendations on the introduction of a certain kind of polity, Aristotle emerges as a supporter of the current, although rarely occurring system, the so-called polity, and at the same time designing a "perfect" system. Conveniently first called conditional model, the second - the ideal polity.

In relation to the other and we are entitled to ask whether they belong to the field of good wishes to the field of political dreams, or have some kind of action-oriented? Let's start with the conditional model of the device. It is, according to Aristotle, is suitable for all policyholders. This is not issued by a philosopher of the ideal, but acceptable and workable system requires no virtue in citizens the possibility of exceeding the ordinary people; it is not designed for education, appropriate the most brilliant natural data and favorable external circumstances. It provides citizens a happy life, since there are no obstacles to the implementation of virtue. This situation, according to Aristotle, formed where the middle layer of the citizens quantitatively superior to the rich and the poor together, or at least one of these layers. About polity Aristotle says that it is rare and few. Indeed, such a system is rarely seen in the Greek states. However, it can not be considered something existing only in the imagination of Aristotle. The fifth book has references to the real existence of the polity. Taranto, Aristotle noted about the time of the end of the Persian Wars, established democracy, which grew out of the polity; Gerakleodor Oree transformed into an oligarchy and democracy in the polity. In general terms it refers to the coup, which resulted in the established oligarchy, democracy, polities. In Syracuse, shortly after the victory over the Athenians demos replaced polity to democratic system. In Marseilles as a result of changes in laws which regulated filling positions, the oligarchy has become close to the polity. There is also a mention of the total collapse of the polity. This list shows that, although Aristotle is in the past and present few examples of the "middle" of the device - far less than the democracy of examples, oligarchy, monarchy, aristocracy, - nevertheless polity is not a utopia, since it can exist for him, and there in historical reality. After all is said is of particular importance Aristotle's observation that, contrary to the established custom not want equality, but either seek to dominate or patiently endure their subordinate position only a husband showed himself a supporter of the "middle" of the device. Aristotle was convinced that he was able to inspire his royal pupil Alexander the Great thought of planting in the Greek polis system in which public affairs are solved by citizens of average means.

For the Macedonian Government this procedure had the advantage in addition to its other advantages, it provides peace of mind in the Greek polis, ie He promised to secure the rear of the march of the Macedonians in the East. For the "average build" it is, according to Aristotle, the only one in which internal conflicts are eliminated.

To sum up our discussion of the "average" is constructed in the light of Aristotle, we can conclude: Polity, "average" state system, the support which should serve the citizens of average means, represented for Aristotle not only of theoretical interest. Hopes on the Macedonian king, Aristotle believed that there is reason to look at your system as a conditional model for the future of the Greek policies. Two recent books "Politicians" project summary contains the best of government, in which citizens lead a happy life.

The writing of such projects was not new in the time of Aristotle the philosopher had predecessors, which dealt with the theory of the second book, "Politics." As can be seen from the words of Aristotle, as well as from well-known works of Plato, writers projects, setting ourselves the aim to build the perfect city-state did not much care about the practical implementation of their proposals. Such projects do not meet Aristotle. Expounding his theory of the ideal order, it comes from the fact that this doctrine contains nothing impossible. The prerequisites for the creation of a model, the best policy is, according to Aristotle, are a certain number of people, some the size of the territory, convenient position relative to the sea. Among full citizens excluded artisans and merchants, as a way of life and those of others, Aristotle argues, is not conducive to the development of the virtues and happy life can only be a life in conformity with virtue. Organization of tenure should provide citizens with food and at the same time provide the opportunity to amicably their property for use by other citizens. The whole civilian population should participate in sissitii, ie public meals.

It is proposed to divide all the land in the state into two parts - public and privately. One part of the public land will give the money to cover the costs of a religious cult, the other - on sissitii. Separation of privately owned land into two parts should be done with the expectation that each citizen had two plots of land - one near the border and the other in the city. Considering the issues related directly to the state system, Aristotle refrained from large detail. He insists that the good organization of the state can not get through a fluke, but by knowing and deliberate plan. Particular importance is attached to the "Politics" marriage laws, which should be directed to the normal born physically younger generation. In the last book contains detailed provisions concerning the education of future citizens. Aristotle's views on these issues are closely connected with its ideals of social order.

The ideal system of government described in the "Politics", in general, similar to what the previous presentation called aristocratic. According to Aristotle, are full-fledged citizens in a polis life, contributing to the development of virtue and therefore provides state a happy life.