The outcome of the Regime

Chapter 3

1. Critique of Socrates' Idea of Unity Through Common Ownership (1261b)
   • Socrates' Argument: Socrates suggests that the city will become a complete unity if all citizens say "mine" and "not mine" at the same time, implying a shared sense of ownership over children, women, and property.
   • Aristotle's Counterargument:
     • This argument is not convincing because “all” has a double sense:
     • If "all" means "each individual," then citizens would each refer to the same child as their own son, and the same woman as their own wife.
     • However, in Socrates’ system, citizens would collectively refer to children and wives as belonging to everyone, not individually.
   • Conclusion: This ambiguity in the meaning of “all” undermines Socrates' idea of a unified city through common ownership.

Video Explanation

Key Takeaways in Chapter 3:

• Critique of Common Ownership: Aristotle challenges Plato’s proposal of common ownership of women and children, arguing that it does not foster unity but instead leads to neglect and lack of care for common goods and offspring.
• Ambiguity of “All” and Ownership: The concept of shared ownership among all citizens is shown to be flawed due to the ambiguity in the word “all.” Common ownership does not result in true unity or harmony, as individuals are less likely to take personal responsibility for collective goods.
• Neglect of Shared Responsibility: When property, children, or other elements of life are held in common, they receive less care because people assume others will take responsibility. Aristotle uses both household management and common children as examples of how shared ownership leads to neglect.
• Recognition of Kinship: Aristotle argues that even in systems where children are held in common, kinship ties would still be recognized through physical resemblance, making the goal of complete detachment from familial ties impossible.
• Natural Inclinations: Aristotle reinforces the idea that natural similarities between parents and children make common ownership impractical, as people would inevitably recognize their relatives and care more for their own.