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Aristotle on Polity and So-called Aristocracy: The Problem of Virtue in Political Life |
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Abstract:
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Some scholars have argued that the regime called “polity” provides the key to understanding Aristotle’s ideal of political rule. This view, however, tends to underplay a distinction Aristotle makes between polity and “so-called aristocracy.” That regime, though similar to polity, differs insofar as its citizens select political officials based on their virtue. Although Aristotle sometimes suggests that political appeals to virtue can involve difficulties and dangers, he suggests a preference for the so-called aristocracy. We can make sense of this by reevaluating his discussion of political rule, which, I argue, suggests a more reflective account of citizenship than is implied by his discussions of polity. Even if we cannot pin down precisely the virtues that qualify citizens for political office, Aristotle suggests that conceiving political selection in terms of virtues constitutes part of political virtue itself. I also consider the relevance of Aristotle’s ideas, contrasting them with more recent approaches to the relationship between virtue and political life. |
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polit (249), aristotl (198), regim (117), virtu (110), politi (105), rule (89), citizen (67), democraci (55), one (46), aristocraci (46), charact (45), call (45), press (42), 38 (42), seem (41), view (40), page (39), might (39), indic (39), nitsch (38), best (36), |
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Association:
Name: Midwest Political Science Association 67th Annual National Conference
URL: http://www.indiana.edu/~mpsa/
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Citation:
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MLA Citation:
| Nitsch, Michael. "Aristotle on Polity and So-called Aristocracy: The Problem of Virtue in Political Life" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association 67th Annual National Conference, The Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, IL, Apr 02, 2009 <Not Available>. 2010-01-22 <http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p361585_index.html> |
APA Citation:
| Nitsch, M. W. , 2009-04-02 "Aristotle on Polity and So-called Aristocracy: The Problem of Virtue in Political Life" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association 67th Annual National Conference, The Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, IL Online <APPLICATION/PDF>. 2010-01-22 from http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p361585_index.html |
Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Some scholars have argued that the regime called “polity” provides the key to understanding Aristotle’s ideal of political rule. This view, however, tends to underplay a distinction Aristotle makes between polity and “so-called aristocracy.” That regime, though similar to polity, differs insofar as its citizens select political officials based on their virtue. Although Aristotle sometimes suggests that political appeals to virtue can involve difficulties and dangers, he suggests a preference for the so-called aristocracy. We can make sense of this by reevaluating his discussion of political rule, which, I argue, suggests a more reflective account of citizenship than is implied by his discussions of polity. Even if we cannot pin down precisely the virtues that qualify citizens for political office, Aristotle suggests that conceiving political selection in terms of virtues constitutes part of political virtue itself. I also consider the relevance of Aristotle’s ideas, contrasting them with more recent approaches to the relationship between virtue and political life. |
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| Document Type: |
application/pdf |
| Page count: |
38 |
| Word count: |
13142 |
| Text sample: |
| Aristotle on Polity and So-called Aristocracy: The Role of Virtue in Political Life Michael William Nitsch Department of Government Harvard University Prepared for the 2009 National Conference of the Midwest Political Science Association Panel 30-8: The Politics of Virtue and the Therapy of Politics April 4 2009 Nitsch Page 2 of 38 Observers of politics in the United States – and of presidential politics in particular – have in recent decades noted a shift towards a “candidate-centered” political culture. |
| 2005): 1-42. Walzer Michael. “Political Action: The Problem of Dirty Hands.” Philosophy and Public Affairs 2 no. 2 (Winter 1973): 160-180. Wattenberg Martin P. The Rise of Candidate-Centered Politics: Presidential Elections of the 1980s. Cambridge Mass: Harvard University Press 1991. Williams Bernard. “Politics and Moral Character.” In Public and Private Morality edited by Stuart Hampshire. New York: Cambridge University Press 1978. 55-73. Yack Bernard. “Community and Conflict in Aristotle's Political Philosophy.” The Review of Politics 47 no. 1 (January |
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