7C. Aristotle

ARISTOTLE
Slavery
 Slavery was in vogue in Greece earlier to, as well as after Aristotle. Aristotle
defended slavery both from the point of view of the slave and the master, the
householder. He has gone to the extent of moral justification of slavery.
 Aristotle proceeds with the plea that every art requires its proper instrument. The
management of a household is an art which also requires proper instrument. As in
arts which has a definite sphere, the workers must have their own proper
instruments for the accomplishment of their work, so it is in the management of
the household. The instruments are of various sorts, some are living, some are
lifeless, the servant or a slave is also a kind of instrument.
Definition of Slave
 Aristotle distinguish between animate and inanimate

instruments in a household. The slave was animate
instrument intended for action and not for production.
Aristotle defined slave as one ‘who can be and therefore is
another’s and one who has reason enough to comprehend,
but does not have reason’.
Slavery as a Natural Institution
 Aristotle opines that slavery is not a manmade institution but a natural one. It
must therefore be retained and maintained. He believed in natural inequality
of mankind. In support of his plea Aristotle divides men into two groups,
 one in whom nature has implanted the governing principle and
the other, people in whom the submitting principle is planted.

 Aristotle disapproved slavery by law i.e. slavery by force as it happens in case
of prisoners of war. He opined that all barbarians i.e. those who are not
Greeks furnish the natural order of slaves. He thus, introduced a racial theory
of politics.
Propositions
 Aristotle’s theory of slavery rests upon two propositions
1) By nature, men are unequal and divided with respect to their

capacities for virtue.
2) It can be determined who is virtuous and non-virtuous

Justification of Slavery
 Natural Inequality of Mankind: Men are by nature unequal with respect to their capacities for virtue.
There are persons who possess high sense of reason and who are fit to command. Likewise, there are
other persons whose intellectual standards is low and who are fit to obey only.
 Superior Rule over Inferiors: some should rule and others be ruled is a thing not only necessary, but
expedient from the hour of birth, some are marked out for subjection, others for rule.
 Manifestation of the General Rule: Aristotle opines that slavery is one more manifestation of the
general rule of nature of subordination of the inferior to the superior.
 Useful to both Master and Slave: Slavery is useful not only for the master, it is equally useful to the
slave himself. A slave’s association with his master brings him derivative excellence. By providing
leisure to the master, a slave enables him to attain virtue.
 Necessary for the welfare and security of Family, Society and State: Each natural household requires
slave for his proper management. Hence slavery is an essential part of natural management. A slave is
necessary for the maintenance of a family. Efficient management of state depends upon the leisure of its
citizens. This can be provided only by the slaves who looks after the needs of the household.
 Physical Distinction: Aristotle opines that nature has made a distinction between the
bodies of freemen and slaves, she made strong for servile labour, and the former upright.
They are required to participate in the political life of the state both in times of war and
peace. Thus, some men, are by nature free and other’s slaves.
 Justified on moral Grounds: Aristotle opines that the master is endowed with moral
superiority whereas the slave is morally inferior. If he is admitted to the family, he not only
becomes a good servant but a good man. In case he is not admitted to the family, the higher
products of civilisation would not be possible and his moral sense could not have been
developed at all.
 Justification of Slavery on conquering war: Aristotle opines that, as it is just and fair to
hunt against wild animals, so is it against men who though intended by nature to be
governed did not submit.
Limitations of Slavery
 Slavery by Nature or by Law: A distinction should be made

between a slave by nature and a slave by law.
 No Legal Sanction: Aristotle does not approve of Slavery by law
 Friendly Behaviour: While dealing with the slave, the master must
not misuse his authority, he should be kind to his slave.
 Emancipation: The slave should be given the hope and, also the
opportunity of emancipation.
Criticisms
 Illogical: The Aristotelian doctrine of natural superiority and inferiority sounds very illogical. It
is rather difficult to see the moral or intellectual value of a distinction which gives a man the
status of a beast while admitting that he has not ceased to be a man.
 Classification Unjustified.: Aristotle holds that human beings can be divided into two classes
superior and inferior. It cannot be said that any person or a group of persons lacks the capacity of
virtue.
 No Criteria for Classification: Aristotle has not fixed any criteria for dividing human beings. In
such a case it cannot be determined whether a person belongs to the superior class or inferior
class.
 Racial Prejudice: Aristotle held that all non-Greeks are barbarians and furnish the natural order
of slaves. He is of the opinion, that war prisoners, if they are non-Greeks, may be justifiably
made slaves. This view appears to have been evolved due to his racial prejudice.
 Inconsistency: On the one hand Aristotle recommended a human treatment of slaves by the
master, on the other he treated slaves as animate instruments of action who cannot apply reason.
 Unreasonable and Self Contradictory: Aristotle treats the slave as animate instrument of
action who is not capable of applying reason. In that case majority of the industrial workers
who hardly acquire any initiative would be reduced to the status of slaves which is not
reasonable. While the slave is a piece of property of animate kind, he simultaneously holds that
the slave should be given some share in the law and, also provide some chances of
emancipation. It is difficult to reconcile these contradictory stands of Aristotle.
 Contradictory to Social Justice: on the one hand he considers the slave essential to enable the
masters to devote themselves fully the services of the society but on the other hand he does not
acknowledge their importance or properly reward them for their services.
It is evident from the above discussion that Aristotle’s view on slavery have met with severe
criticisms at the hand of the modern thinkers, however it must be noticed that they must be judged
in the context of the conditions prevailing during those times for the stability of the city states.

7C. Aristotle

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ARISTOTLE

 Aristotle distinguish between animate and inanimate

the other, people in whom the submitting principle is planted.

 Aristotle’s theory of slavery rests upon two propositions

1) By nature, men are unequal and divided with respect to their

2) It can be determined who is virtuous and non-virtuous

 Slavery by Nature or by Law: A distinction should be made

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