Overall Concern of the Household

Chapter 13

1. Priority of Household Management in Relation to Virtue

• Household management is concerned with the well-being and virtue of human beings, prioritizing free persons over inanimate property and slaves.

2. Question of Slave Virtue

• Aristotle questions whether slaves possess virtues beyond mere instrumental capabilities, such as moderation, courage, and justice, and how these might differ from those of free persons.

3. Virtue in Women and Children

• The question extends to whether women and children possess virtues comparable to men, and the implications for their roles within the household.

4. Rulers and Ruled: Same or Different Virtues?

• Aristotle explores the necessity of virtue in both rulers and the ruled, asserting that differences in virtue reflect their different roles rather than a mere hierarchy of virtue.

5. Necessity of Virtue in Both Ruler and Ruled

• Both rulers and the ruled require virtue for effective governance and societal function, but the virtues required differ based on their distinct roles.

6. Natural Hierarchy in the Soul

• The soul's natural hierarchy, with rational parts ruling over irrational, parallels the political rule, illustrating the natural order within both individual and societal structures.

7. Different Forms of Rule in the Household

• Household management encompasses various forms of rule: over slaves, between genders, and between generations, each governed by different aspects of virtue.

8. Virtue in Relation to Function

• Virtue is necessary for all members of the household but varies according to one's role, particularly highlighting the complete virtue required of rulers compared to the more limited virtue of the ruled.

9. Differences in Virtue Between Men and Women

• Aristotle posits that the virtues required of men and women differ, challenging views like those of Socrates who argued for their similarity.

10. Specific Virtues Based on Role

• Virtue must be tailored to the roles individuals play within the household and society, advocating for a nuanced understanding that respects functional distinctions.

11. Virtue of Silence for Women

• Silence is highlighted as a virtue particularly ornamenting women, reflecting differentiated expectations of virtue based on gender roles.

12. Slave Virtue

• The virtues necessary for slaves are minimal and oriented towards their functional efficiency and avoidance of vices like licentiousness and cowardice.

13. Artisans and Virtue

• Artisans, while necessary for society, possess a different form of "slavery" to their crafts, which does not integrate them into the household's moral life as slaves are.

14. The Role of the Master in Instilling Virtue

• The master's responsibility extends beyond mere command to fostering virtue in slaves, essential for their proper function within the household.

15. Transition to Discussions on the Family and City

• The discussion transitions to how the virtues developed within the household impact the broader political structure of the city, emphasizing the importance of educating women and children for societal excellence.

16. Importance of Education for Women and Children

• The education of women and children is crucial for the well-being of the city, highlighting their integral role in the political and moral life of the community.

Key Themes in Chapter 13:

• The cultivation of virtue is central to household management, with distinctions in the virtues appropriate to different roles within the household and society.
• Education and the proper development of virtue in all members of the household are vital for the health and excellence of the city.