According to Aristotle, the problem of morality can only be resolved within the framework of the state. The aim of the state is not only to protect and improve the material well-being of its citizens but also to safeguard and develop their moral lives. For Aristotle, the most important issue for the state is education. He envisions the state as a landowning Polis (city-state) and considers it a large organism.
According to Aristotle, within the state, there are "free individuals who possess citizenship rights and slaves who do not." Aristotle regards slavery as a natural phenomenon. In his view, the goodness or badness of a state does not depend on its constitution but on the attitudes and behaviors of its rulers. A good form of government is one that prioritizes the happiness of its citizens and the common good. If a king considers the well-being of the people and ensures the happiness of society as a whole, then monarchy can also be regarded as an ideal form of government. However, if the ruler prioritizes his own interests, the form of government turns into a corrupt system of administration.
Orhan Açıkgöz
Yücel Cultural Foundation
Voluntary Author
YKV Content:1613