BOOK 5 Chapter 2 Beginnings and Causes of Change

Chapter 2

I. Introduction: Causes of Factional Conflict and Regime Change

1. Purpose of Investigation:
   • Aristotle examines the causes of factional conflicts and revolutions that lead to regime changes.
   • He focuses on understanding:
     • What condition people are in when they engage in factional conflict.
     • For what purposes they engage in these conflicts.
     • The beginning points of political disturbances.
2. Three General Causes:
   • Aristotle outlines three main aspects that contribute to factional conflict:
     • The condition of the people involved.
     • The goals they pursue.
     • The initial triggers or causes of political disturbances.

II. Condition of Individuals in Factional Conflict

1. Equality vs. Inequality:
   • People engage in factional conflict based on how they perceive their standing in society:
     • Those who seek equality: People who believe they are equal to others but have less will fight to gain equality.
     • Those who seek inequality: Individuals who view themselves as superior but feel they have less power will fight for preeminence and greater control.
2. Justified vs. Unjustified Conflict:
   • Justified conflict: People may have legitimate grievances, seeking justice and fairness.
   • Unjustified conflict: Some engage in conflict out of greed, arrogance, or a desire for power without just cause.
3. Motivations Based on Status:
   • The lesser (those with fewer resources or status) fight to achieve equality.
   • The equal (those with a similar status) fight to gain superiority over their peers.

III. Motivations for Factional Conflict

1. Profit and Honor:
   • Primary Motivations: People engage in factional conflict for profit (material gain) and honor (social prestige).
   • Avoidance of Dishonor: Individuals may also fight to avoid dishonor or punishment, whether for themselves or their allies.
2. Opposites of Profit and Honor:
   • Conflicts may also arise to avoid the loss of wealth or status, or to prevent humiliation.

IV. The Causes of Political Disturbances and Factional Conflict

1. Seven General Causes:
   • Aristotle identifies seven primary causes that lead to political disturbances:
     1. Profit: People are agitated when they see others gaining wealth, even if that gain is justified.
     2. Honor: Similarly, seeing others gain honor can provoke factional conflict, whether the honors are deserved or not.
     3. Arrogance: The arrogance or hubris of the powerful can stir resentment in others.
     4. Fear: People may engage in conflict out of fear of losing their status, property, or freedom.
     5. Preeminence: Striving for preeminence can cause conflict when one group or individual dominates others.
     6. Contempt: Feelings of contempt or disrespect can provoke factional conflict, especially when one group looks down on another.
     7. Disproportionate Growth: When one group or faction grows too powerful too quickly, it creates an imbalance that leads to political instability.
2. Additional Causes:
   • Aristotle also identifies several other contributing factors that, while not always primary, can still lead to conflict:
     1. Electioneering: Competition for public offices can generate rivalry and conflict.
     2. Underestimation: When one group underestimates another, it can provoke backlash.
     3. Neglect of Small Things: Small grievances, if left unaddressed, can build up and lead to larger conflicts.
     4. Dissimilarity: Differences in background, wealth, education, or culture can cause divisions and factionalism.

V. How These Causes Interact

1. Profit and Honor (Revisited):
   • Aristotle emphasizes that profit and honor play dual roles in generating conflict:
     • Not only do people fight to gain these things, but they are also stirred to conflict when they see others gaining wealth or prestige, even if those gains are perceived as justified.
2. Reactions to Injustice:
   • People may engage in conflict when they perceive injustice—whether that injustice is real or imagined. For example, even if someone gains power justly, others may view that as a threat to their own status.

Conclusion: Key Drivers of Factional Conflict

In Chapter 2, Aristotle provides a framework for understanding the causes of factional conflict and political instability. He identifies seven main causes that drive political revolutions, with profit and honor being the most significant. People engage in conflict when they perceive inequality or injustice, either seeking equality or preeminence, depending on their status. The role of fear, arrogance, preeminence, and contempt adds further complexity to these conflicts, and even seemingly small issues can escalate into larger disturbances.

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