Chapter 4
1. Introduction: The Relationship Between the Good Man and the Excellent Citizen (1277a)
- Key Question: Aristotle explores whether the virtue of the good man is the same as that of the excellent citizen or whether they are different. To address this, Aristotle first needs to clarify the virtue of the citizen.
- Citizens and Sailors Analogy: Just as sailors have different roles on a ship (rowers, pilots, lookouts, etc.) but share a common goal (the safety of the ship), citizens, despite their differences, also share a common goal: the preservation of the political community. This analogy sets the stage for examining citizenship as a shared role aimed at maintaining the regime.
2. The Virtue of the Citizen and the Regime (1277a)
- Diversity of Citizens and Regimes:
- Although citizens may have different roles within the regime, the virtue of a citizen must be understood in relation to the preservation of the regime.
- Since there are multiple forms of regimes (e.g., democracy, oligarchy, monarchy), the virtue of the excellent citizen cannot be one single virtue, as it must align with the specific regime in which the citizen operates.
- The Good Man’s Virtue: In contrast, the good man has a single, complete virtue: moral excellence. Therefore, it is possible for someone to be an excellent citizen without necessarily possessing the complete virtue of a good man.
3. The Best Regime and the Virtue of Citizens (1277a)
- Ideal City and Different Citizens:
- In an ideal city, while it may not be possible for all citizens to be morally excellent, each should perform their specific task well based on their role within the regime.
- Diverse Virtues in a City: Since not all citizens are the same, the virtues required of them will differ. The virtue of the citizen must exist in everyone to ensure the city's excellence, but this is distinct from the virtue of the good man, which requires complete moral excellence.
- Dissimilar Roles in the City: Just as different parts of an organism (e.g., soul and body) or members of a household (man, woman, master, slave) have different roles, citizens have diverse functions within the city. Therefore, the virtue of all citizens cannot be identical.
4. When the Virtue of the Citizen and the Good Man Are the Same (1277a)
- Overlap in Virtue:
- Aristotle asks if there is ever a case where the virtues of the excellent citizen and the good man are the same.
- Ruler vs. Ruled: The virtue of the good ruler is the same as the virtue of the good man, but the ordinary citizen does not necessarily need the same level of prudence or moral excellence as the ruler.
- Education of Rulers: Rulers often receive specialized education in leadership (e.g., training in war, military tactics), as seen in the education of royal heirs. This education distinguishes them from ordinary citizens, suggesting that their virtue is of a higher order.
5. The Ruler and the Ruled (1277b)
- Ruling and Being Ruled:
- Capacity to Rule and Be Ruled: Aristotle highlights the praise given to those who can both rule and be ruled effectively. This dual capacity is central to the virtue of a good citizen. In contrast, the virtue of a good man is primarily concerned with ruling.
- Different Skills for Different Roles: The virtues required for ruling and being ruled are not the same. Rulers must possess prudence, while the ruled must exhibit the virtue of following orders effectively, which requires true opinion rather than prudence.
- Political Rule vs. Mastery: There are two types of rule:
- Master’s Rule: Involves governing over those who perform necessary tasks, like slaves or craftsmen, without the ruler needing to know how to perform these tasks.
- Political Rule: Governing those who are similar in stock and free. In political rule, citizens alternate between ruling and being ruled.
6. The Virtue of the Good Citizen and the Good Man (1277b)
- Political Rule and Learning to Rule: Aristotle argues that to rule well, one must first learn to be ruled. This applies to roles like cavalry commanders or generals, who first learn leadership by being led. Therefore, the virtue of the good citizen involves knowledge of both how to rule and how to be ruled.
- Distinct Virtues for Different Roles: The virtue of the good citizen involves a dual capacity to both rule and be ruled. In contrast, the good man must primarily focus on ruling, as the ability to govern prudently is central to his virtue.
7. Differences in Virtue Based on Role (1277b)
- Gender and Virtue: Aristotle provides examples to demonstrate that virtues vary depending on one's role. For instance, the virtue of courage differs between men and women. A man would be considered cowardly if his courage only matched that of a courageous woman, while a woman would be considered talkative if she spoke as much as a modest man.
- Household Management: Similarly, household management differs between men and women: the man’s role is to acquire resources, while the woman’s role is to guard them.
8. Prudence as the Ruler’s Virtue (1277b)
- Prudence and True Opinion:
- Prudence is a virtue unique to the ruler. The ruled, in contrast, do not require prudence; they need true opinion, which allows them to follow the ruler’s commands effectively.
- Analogy of the Flute Maker and Flute Player: Aristotle compares the relationship between the ruler and the ruled to the flute maker and flute player. The flute player (ruler) uses the instrument, while the flute maker (ruled) creates it. This analogy illustrates how the ruler’s virtue of prudence is superior and different from the virtues required of the ruled.
9. Conclusion: The Virtue of the Good Man and the Excellent Citizen (1277b)
- Summarizing the Relationship Between Virtue and Role:
- Aristotle concludes that the virtue of the good man and the excellent citizen are the same in certain cases but differ in others. The virtues overlap for rulers, as ruling requires the highest level of virtue, but they diverge when considering ordinary citizens, who need to balance both ruling and being ruled.
- The Good Citizen’s Virtue: The good citizen must be able to both rule and be ruled, but this is not the same as the complete moral virtue of the good man, who focuses primarily on ruling with prudence.
Expanded Analysis:
In Chapter 4 of Politics Book 3, Aristotle explores the complex relationship between the virtue of the good man and the virtue of the excellent citizen. He uses a series of analogies—sailors, musical notes, rulers, and the ruled—to illustrate how different roles in society require different kinds of virtue.
At the heart of Aristotle’s argument is the idea that citizenship is not a one-size-fits-all concept. Just as sailors on a ship have different roles but work toward a common goal, citizens in a regime perform different functions but contribute to the preservation of the political community. The good man possesses complete moral virtue, but the excellent citizen has a virtue that is relative to the regime and role they fulfill.
Aristotle concludes by distinguishing between the virtue required for ruling and the virtue needed for being ruled. In an ideal regime, the good citizen should possess both sets of skills, while the good man is defined primarily by his ability to govern wisely and prudently.
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