BOOK 7 Chapter 13 I. Introduction: The Goal of the Best Regime

Chapter 13

I. Introduction: The Goal of the Best Regime

• A. The Constitution of the Ideal City
  • Aristotle begins by addressing the question of how to constitute a city that is blessed and finely governed. The chapter aims to define the types of people and conditions necessary to form the best regime.
  • The focus of the discussion is on how the best possible city can be constructed in a way that ensures it is happy and well-governed, emphasizing the qualities of its citizens and leadership.
• B. The Two Key Elements of Living Well
  • Aristotle identifies two main components that are essential for living well:
    • 1. Correct Aim: First, there must be a correct understanding of the aim or end of actions. This means that individuals must have a clear sense of what they are striving for—happiness and virtue.
    • 2. Correct Actions: Second, the actions taken must effectively lead to that end. In other words, people must be able to find the means to achieve their goal. Even if the aim is right, the actions toward it must also be correct for success.
• C. Failures in Aims and Actions
  • Aristotle explains that failure can occur in different ways:
    • 1. Misjudging the End: Sometimes individuals set the wrong end and, even if they pursue it effectively, they fail because the goal itself is flawed.
    • 2. Misjudging the Actions: Other times, individuals may have the correct goal but fail because they pursue it through incorrect actions.
    • 3. Missing Both: The worst-case scenario is when individuals miss both the end and the actions, leading to complete failure.
• D. Analogy with Medicine
  • Aristotle uses the analogy of medicine to illustrate the point. Just as a doctor must know both the correct end goal (health) and the correct treatments to achieve that end, the legislator must know both the ultimate aim of the city (happiness) and the actions necessary to achieve it.

II. The Nature of Happiness and the Best Regime

• A. The Universal Pursuit of Happiness
  • Aristotle observes that everyone strives for happiness and living well, but some are better equipped to achieve these things due to their fortune or nature. While happiness is theoretically open to everyone, some people are prevented from achieving it because of external factors.
• B. Correct vs. Incorrect Pursuit of Happiness
  • Some people, despite being able to achieve happiness, seek it in the wrong way. Aristotle is concerned with guiding individuals and cities toward the correct path to happiness. This correct path is aligned with the best regime, which must help the citizens live the best life possible.
• C. The Definition of Happiness
  • Aristotle defines happiness as the actualization and complete practice of virtue. It is not based on external presuppositions but is a self-sufficient and unqualified good.
    • Necessary vs. Unqualified Goods: Some things are good only because they are necessary, like punishments or justice in retribution. These are good in a conditional or necessary sense but not inherently desirable. On the other hand, actions directed toward honor and well-being are unqualifiedly noble because they contribute to the greater good without being tied to necessary evils.
    • Example of Virtue: Aristotle explains that virtuous individuals can handle misfortunes like poverty and disease nobly, but true blessedness lies in their opposites—good fortune and health.
• D. Role of the Legislator
  • The legislator must focus on providing the conditions for the city and its citizens to achieve happiness through the practice of virtue. Some external goods, like fortune, are beyond control, but virtue is a matter of choice and deliberate action. A well-constructed regime can equip citizens to be virtuous.

III. The Role of Citizens in the Best Regime

• A. The Role of Excellence in Citizens
  • A city is excellent if its citizens are excellent. In the ideal regime, all citizens must actively participate in the political process, and their excellence contributes to the overall success of the city. The virtue of the citizens leads to the happiness of the city.
• B. The Importance of Individual Excellence
  • While it is possible for a city to function well with only some citizens being excellent, it is more desirable for each individual citizen to be excellent. The excellence of the whole comes from the excellence of each part (each citizen), so the best regime is one where all citizens are cultivated to be virtuous.
• C. How Men Become Excellent
  • Aristotle identifies three factors that contribute to making a man excellent:
    • 1. Nature: A person must be naturally inclined to develop as a human being and possess the right qualities of body and soul.
    • 2. Habit: Habituation plays a critical role in shaping virtue. Individuals need to develop the right habits to foster good character.
    • 3. Reason: Finally, reason distinguishes humans from other animals. Human beings must be guided by rational thought to make good decisions and act virtuously.
• D. The Role of Nature, Habit, and Reason
  • Although nature sets the foundation, it is habits and reason that ultimately determine whether an individual develops into a good and virtuous person. Nature alone is insufficient because habits can alter natural inclinations for better or worse.
  • Unlike animals, humans have the ability to override their natural tendencies and habits through reason, choosing a better course of action if they are persuaded that it is superior.

IV. The Role of Education in the Best Regime

• A. The Need for Education
  • Aristotle concludes that, after nature, the development of good citizens depends on education. Education is essential for both the formation of habits and the development of reason.
  • Learning by Habituation and Instruction: People learn some things through habituation (repeated actions that form character) and others through listening (education and reasoning). Both are necessary for creating good citizens.

Summary of Major Themes

1. The Best Regime and Happiness: Aristotle connects the best regime with the achievement of happiness. A city is best governed when it enables its citizens to live well, which means practicing virtue and attaining happiness.
2. Dual Requirements for Living Well: Aristotle stresses the importance of both correctly identifying the goal (happiness) and acting in the right way to achieve it. Cities must be structured in a way that promotes both virtuous aims and actions.
3. Excellence of Citizens: The excellence of a city depends on the excellence of its citizens. In the best regime, every citizen is virtuous, which in turn leads to the happiness of the city. The more excellent individuals there are, the better the regime.
4. Role of Nature, Habit, and Reason: Aristotle argues that human nature, habits, and reason are the three critical factors in developing virtue. Education and the legislator play key roles in cultivating these qualities in citizens.
5. Education and Habituation: Education is crucial in shaping citizens who can live virtuous lives. It ensures that citizens develop the right habits and the ability to use reason to guide their actions. Without education, even naturally gifted individuals may fail to reach their potential.

In conclusion, Aristotle’s vision for the best regime is one that enables happiness through the virtue of its citizens. By fostering individual excellence through a combination of nature, habit, and reason, and by providing the right education, the regime creates a society where all citizens can live well.

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