Chapter 5
1. Question: Who is Truly a Citizen? (1278a)
- Citizenship and Office-Holding: Aristotle addresses the question of whether true citizens are only those who are eligible to share in office, or if workers should also be regarded as citizens.
- Implication for Virtue: If workers are considered citizens, then the virtue of citizenship (discussed in previous chapters) cannot apply to all citizens equally, as workers would lack the ability to participate in offices.
- If Workers Aren’t Citizens: Aristotle asks what category these individuals fall into if they are not considered citizens. They are neither resident aliens nor foreigners, but they do not share in office.
2. The Status of Non-Office-Holders (1278a)
- Slaves and Freedmen: Aristotle distinguishes between slaves and freedmen, noting that neither group is included among citizens. This leads to the conclusion that not all essential contributors to the city are necessarily citizens.
- Children as Incomplete Citizens: Like children, who are future citizens but not full citizens yet, certain groups may play necessary roles in the city without being full participants in political life.
3. Workers in Ancient Times and the Best City (1278a)
- Workers as Non-Citizens: In ancient times, workers were often either slaves or foreigners, and many cities still maintain this structure.
- Best City’s Policy: In the best city, workers will not be considered citizens because citizenship requires participation in virtue, which is incompatible with the life of a worker.
- Virtue and Free Persons: The virtue of citizenship cannot apply to all free persons, only to those who are relieved from necessary work (i.e., free from labor that prevents participation in public life).
4. Distinction Between Slaves and Workers (1278a)
- Definition of Slaves and Workers:
- Slaves serve an individual master.
- Workers and laborers serve the community by performing necessary tasks.
- Incompatibility with Citizenship: Aristotle argues that those performing these necessary services, while vital to the city's functioning, are not suited to the virtue of the citizen.
5. Different Regimes and Different Kinds of Citizens (1278a)
- Regimes Determine Citizenship: There are multiple types of regimes, and therefore there are different kinds of citizens depending on the regime.
- Workers as Citizens in Some Regimes: In certain regimes, such as democracies, workers and laborers may be included as citizens, as everyone is seen as having a role in the regime.
- Citizenship in Aristocracies and Oligarchies: In aristocracies, where political privilege is based on virtue and merit, workers and laborers cannot be citizens. Similarly, in oligarchies, citizenship is based on wealth, so laborers are excluded, although wealthy artisans may qualify for citizenship.
6. Examples from Other Cities (1278a)
- Thebes: In Thebes, there was a law that barred individuals from taking office unless they had abstained from market activities for ten years, effectively excluding laborers from public office.
- Foreigners as Citizens: In many cities, laws allowed certain foreigners to become citizens due to manpower shortages. For example, children of citizen mothers or bastards were included as citizens in some democracies.
7. Gradual Restriction of Citizenship (1278a–1278b)
- Reducing the Pool of Citizens: When cities prospered and no longer faced a shortage of manpower, they gradually restricted citizenship:
- Initially, children of slave or foreign parents were disqualified.
- Later, only those with two native-born parents could be considered full citizens.
- Prerogatives of Citizens: Aristotle highlights the importance of prerogatives in defining citizenship, as Homer described a citizen as one who shares in honor and privilege. Those excluded from these prerogatives were considered akin to aliens.
8. Virtue of the Good Man vs. Excellent Citizen (1278b)
- Different Virtue in Different Regimes: Aristotle returns to the question of whether the virtue of the good man and the excellent citizen are the same or different.
- Regime-Specific Virtue: The answer depends on the regime: in some cities, the good man and excellent citizen may have the same virtues, while in others, their virtues will differ.
- Rulers vs. Citizens: Only rulers or those with authority can be both good men and excellent citizens, as their roles demand complete virtue. In contrast, ordinary citizens may not need to possess the full virtues of the good man.
9. Conclusion: Several Kinds of Citizens (1278b)
- Different Types of Citizens: Aristotle concludes that there are several kinds of citizens, and not all citizens are required to have the same virtues.
- Participation in Offices: Full citizenship is reserved for those who participate in prerogatives and share in ruling. Those who are excluded from these functions (e.g., workers, laborers, foreigners) may reside in the city but lack full political participation, placing them in a different category.
Expanded Analysis:
In Chapter 5 of Politics Book 3, Aristotle tackles the complex issue of who counts as a citizen and how citizenship is defined across different types of regimes. He begins by questioning whether only those who can hold public office should be considered citizens or if workers and laborers can also be included. Aristotle argues that while workers perform necessary tasks for the community, they should not be considered full citizens because their lives are incompatible with the virtue required of those who govern.
The chapter highlights that the definition of citizenship depends heavily on the regime. In democracies, workers may be citizens, but in aristocracies and oligarchies, where citizenship is tied to virtue or wealth, workers and laborers are excluded. Aristotle uses examples from other cities, such as Thebes, to show how laws have historically excluded certain groups from citizenship, and how regimes gradually tightened restrictions on citizenship as they became more prosperous.
Aristotle concludes that there are different types of citizens, and not all citizens are required to have the same virtues. In some regimes, citizenship is tied to ruling and participating in public office, while in others, it may be more inclusive, but still differentiated by roles and responsibilities within the community. This nuanced discussion sets the stage for Aristotle’s broader exploration of political systems and the role of virtue in governance.
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