Slavery

Chapter 4

1. The Relationship Between Property and Household Management

• Property as a Part of the Household: Aristotle explains that property is an essential part of the household, and the art of acquiring property is crucial to household management.
• Necessity of Property for Living Well: To live well, one must possess the necessary resources. Proper instruments are required for every specialized art, including household management.

2. Distinction Between Animate and Inanimate Instruments

• Inanimate vs. Animate Instruments: Aristotle draws a distinction between inanimate instruments (e.g., a rudder) and animate instruments (e.g., a lookout in navigation).
• Role of Subordinates as Animate Instruments: In any art or task, the subordinate functions as an animate instrument to assist the master, with a slave falling into this category.
• Property as a Whole: Aristotle defines property as a collection of instruments necessary for life, considering the slave as an animate form of property.

3. Instruments in Action and Production

• Instruments of Production vs. Instruments of Action: Aristotle differentiates between instruments that create something external (productive instruments) and those used for their benefit alone (instruments of action).
• The Slave as an Instrument of Action: Since life focuses on action, not production, a slave primarily aids in living and acting rather than producing goods.

4. The Slave as an Instrument and Property

• Possession and Part: Aristotle views a possession as a part of something else, implying that a part is not independent but wholly belongs to another entity. A slave is considered a part of the master’s household.
• Relationship Between Master and Slave: The master owns the slave but is not owned by the slave, highlighting the lack of autonomy and complete subsumption of the slave into the household as property.

5. Nature and Capacity of the Slave

• Natural Slavery: Aristotle sees the slave's nature as one who does not belong to himself but to someone else.
• A Human as Property: Though a human, a slave functions as an instrument of action, separate from the owner.
• The Slave’s Role in the Household: The slave acts as an extension of the master, assisting in fulfilling the master's daily needs for action.

Key Takeaways

• Property is crucial for household management and living well.
• Slaves are categorized as animate instruments within the household.
• The slave primarily serves as an instrument of action, aiding the master in daily activities.
• The slave is a possession belonging entirely to the master, both as part of the household and as a subordinate in action.
• Slavery is depicted as natural in the sense that some humans are inherently suited to be instruments of action for others.

Video Explanation