Aristotle's Slavery

Introduction: In the modern and civilized age, Aristotle has endorsed the
practice that man has rejected, the stigma of Greek civilization in the eyes
of man, and has tried to justify it with reason. And that is his "slavery".
Slave theory is a fundamental proposition of Aristotle's overall philosophy of
state. In the first part of Aristotle's famous book "Politics", he published his
slavery in the light of these real events and experiences and on the basis of
logic.
The Nature of Slavery: Aristotle felt the need for a domestic economy in
the context of explaining the origin of the state from the family and placed
more emphasis on it. According to Aristotle, the family economy needs a
number of tools. He mentions the need for two types of equipment for the
domestic economy- 1. Inorganic equipment, such as: food, clothing,
resources, etc. and 2. Organic equipment, such as: livestock, slaves, etc.
And based on this idea, he referred to the slave as his master's living
resource and tool of action. According to Aristotle, “A slave is a living
possession of his master and an instrument of action.” (Aristotle’s The
politics, translated by H. Rackham, p. 15)
Aristotle said that, a slave is not only a slave of his master, he surrenders
all his body, mind and deeds to his master. But the Lord's duty to him is far
less. There is no such thing as a slave's reasoning and he is as irrational
and foolish as an animal. The slave will have no such thing as his own
being or freedom and he will dedicate himself completely to the service of
the Lord. According to Aristotle, “... he who is by nature not his own but
another’s man, is nature a slave.” (Aristotle’s The Politics, translated by
B. Jowett, p. 58)
Arguments in Favor of Theory of Slavery: Aristotle defended his slavery

by reason. According to him, slavery is the result of nature's policy. The
arguments of the state are as follows:
1. Natural reasoning: Slavery is a natural provision. Some people are

born close to nature with the power to dominate, while others are born
on earth with the power of slavery. Aristotle said that just as the
dominion of the soul over the various parts of the human body can be
observed, so the dominion over the conscientious slaves as a part of
the family will rest on the conscientious people of the family.
2. Natural and moral reasoning: Aristotle described slavery as normal
and moral. Just as the tools of the family and domestic economy are
natural and natural for human beings, so is slavery natural and natural
for human beings. He compared slavery to musical instruments, saying
that just as music cannot be composed without musical instruments, so
it is not possible for human beings to live a good and moral life without
slaves.
3. Principles of Governance and Subjugation: Slavery depends on the
principles of rule and subordination. According to Aristotle, “It is the
manifest therefore that there are cases of people of whom some are
freemen and the others are slaves by nature, and for these slavery is
an institution both expedient and just.” (Aristotle’s The politics,
translated by H. Rackham, p. 19)
4. Argument of reality: According to Aristotle, slavery is completely
realistic. According to Aristotle, “Authority and subordination are
conditions not only inevitable but also expedient; in some cases things
are marked out from the moment of birth to rule or to be ruled.”
(Aristotle’s The politics, translated by H. Rackham, p.23)
5. Traditional Argument: Slavery was consistent with the conditions and
customs of ancient Greece. At that time the losers of the war were
taken prisoner and included as slaves. So Aristotle said that it was
natural for the weak to be enslaved by the strong.
6. Self-evident principle: Aristotle's slave theory is based on two main
self-evident principles- one is inequality between people, that is, the
superior will rule over the inferior. The other is that someone is more
knowledgeable, someone is ignorant. He who is deprived of knowledge
will naturally become a slave.
7. Superior and inferior principles: Slavery is based on superior and
inferior principles in society. That’ why Aristotle wrote, “For that some
should rule and others be ruled is a thing not only necessary but
expedient; from the hours of their birth, some are marked out for
subjection, others for rule.”
8. From the slave's point of view: Aristotle considered slavery to be the
best. Because, a slave is able to acquire different qualities from the
master and develop himself. So Aristotle advised the lords to be kind to
them.
9. Argument for mutual welfare: Aristotle supported slavery for the
mutual welfare of both master and slave. According to him, slavery is
especially helpful in laying the material foundation of a virtuous and
moral life.
Conclusion: Aristotle's slavery cannot be justified by any logic in the

twentieth century. At present his idea of slavery has proved to be
completely useless and useless. Ernest Barker thinks that "Aristotle
himself opposes slavery as normal and moral, acknowledging the human
rights of slaves, opposing innate slavery, and appealing to human
behavior." (E. Barker, “The Political Thought of Plato and Aristotle”, p.
205)

Aristotle's Slavery

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Aristotle's Slavery

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Aristotle's Slavery

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Introduction: In the modern and civilized age, Aristotle has endorsed the

Arguments in Favor of Theory of Slavery: Aristotle defended his slavery

1. Natural reasoning: Slavery is a natural provision. Some people are

Conclusion: Aristotle's slavery cannot be justified by any logic in the

You might also like