Aristotle on differences between political rule and slave mastery

Politics

Aristotle's Politics

Aristotle covers a great many human relationships that he feels fall under the sphere of "politics," by which he essentially means the wielding of power between human individuals and over other human individuals. There are different political contexts, Aristotle asserts, where different types of political relationships are called for. These contexts are made up of different people, with different objectives and a different derivation of authority.

Two main divisions can be drawn between a master-and-slave type of rule, and a political rule. The former is proper, according to Aristotle, in cases of natural slaves, and even of the rule of a husband and father over his wife and children, though the two cases are not entirely the same (I. 4-8; 12). Political rule, however -- that is, the rule of the state over its population -- must remain more inclusive and equitable by definition, for "a state is a community of freemen" (III.6). If despotic rule were introduced at the state level, the polis wouldn't truly be a polis, but merely the household and goods of the despot/oligarchy.

The goals of these two rule types also differ considerably, though not as much as the modern reader might assume. The master-salve relationship has the ultimate goal of benefiting the master; though the master suffers if the slave dies, the primary goal of the rule is still the benefit of the master. The goal of rule over the wife and children of a man, however, is the greater good of those governed (III.6). This is more akin to the goal of political rule, which endeavors to promote "noble actions" and the good life for al of its citizens (III.9). Just political rule, however, is more inclusive when numbering its rulers.

The question of who rules whom in the aster-slave relationships is fairly straightforward. In the case of a natural master and a natural slave (neither of which Aristotle sufficiently explains, presumably assuming that birth or subsequent circumstance rightly assigned these roles), it is the master that rules unequivocally over the slave, though ostensibly to their mutual benefit. The same is true of the man over his wife and children, though with a greater desire for their good than his own. Political rule requires a larger group in order to refrain from despotism; though it comes with many complications, Aristotle insists, "the principle that the multitude ought to be supreme rather than the few best is one that is maintained" (III.11).