On Aristotle: Saving Politics from Philosophy

by Alan Ryan

In On Aristotle: Saving Politics from Philosophy, Alan Ryan examines Plato's most famous student and sharpest critic, whose writing has helped shape over two millennia of Western philosophy, science, and religion. The first thinker to posit that a society should be ruled by laws and not men, Aristotle was born in Stagira, Macedon, in 384 BCE. He would go on to join Plato's Academy and eventually become tutor to Alexander the Great. During his lifetime he would see the revival of Athens following its destruction in the Peloponnesian War, before the ultimate extinction of its radical form of democracy after the Macedonian conquest. Aristotle's strongly empirical cast of mind was brought to bear on a stunning range of subjects, from rhetoric to physics, from the history of political institutions and mathematics to zoology and botany. The resulting system dominated European thought from the thirteenth to seventeenth centuries. In Nicomachean Ethics and Politics--both excerpted here--Aristotle attempted to delineate the ideal virtues of a both public and private life as well as critique the utopian antipolitics of his former teacher, Plato. For Aristotle, life in a polis was the natural state of man and provided the greatest opportunity for human beings to fulfill their potential. Unlike his scientific theories, which would eventually be displaced by Galileo, Newton, and Darwin, Aristotle's meticulous thinking on the nature of human affairs, ethics, politics, citizenship, and virtue in a civil society remains as vital today as it was in his own time.

Genres: Philosophy, Politics, History, Economics, Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published November 18, 2013

About the author

Alan James Ryan.

Reviews

[Çağrı · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent recap of Aristotle’s key writings, providing extracts from his Politics with an informative introduction beforehand. It served as a great reminder of a thinker I had covered briefly in a first year lecture.

Here is a summary of Aristotle’s main arguments (for my own benefit):

Humans are political animals who can only attain true fulfilment / happiness (eudaemonia) through virtue, which requires engaging in politics (in direct contrast to Plato’s superior Philosopher Kings). Humans’ lack of self-sufficiency in themselves leads them to a dependency on the state (polis) to attain their full potential.

Among other things, Aristotle’s polis entails a natural hierarchy, in which he endorses slavery to allow for the superior (more rational) humans to focus on their political endeavours. He also argues for a husband’s right to rule over his wife (and household) because of the unsubstantiated premise that he is more rational.

The ultimate purpose for the state is to be just - to give each citizen their due. Again, in contrast to Plato, this incorporates every citizen, and not just the philosophers. A just state is therefore only attained through the individual justice of its citizens. The attainment of this individual virtue is outlined and taken from his Nicomachean ethics (acting in accordance with the mean of the 2 opposing, extreme responses).

This therefore leads Aristotle to argue for three types of states - Monarchies, Aristocracies and Polities - to be good, and three types of states - Tyrannies, Oligarchies and Democracies - to be bad. Monarchies are where a single (virtuous) ruler has the interest of his state at heart, and Tyrannies are conversely where a single ruler prioritises his own self-interest. Aristocracies are the rule of a small (virtuous) class and are contrasted to oligarchies which see these small classes corrupted by their own small class’s self-interests. Polities are the rule of the many, whereas democracies are corrupted by the self-interested, poorer classes. In any case, a state is safer and more likely to succeed with a larger middle-class - the mean that is able to mediate between the two extremes of rich and poor. Otherwise, there is always a risk of mutiny by the oppressed, less influential class.

[Bob Finch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a light, quick read that provides a brief survey of Aristotle's thought in his "Politics", from which the book includes some excerpts. Ryan's prose are lucid and concise. He also keeps an eye towards the modern reader, noting that many concepts and assumptions understood by Aristotle have taken on new and sometimes disparate meanings in the 2500 years since Aristotle lived. I am sure there will be complaints that Ryan's treatment is too shallow, too brief, or that it glosses over complexities in Aristotle's writings. For me, it was an excellent primer and leaves me with a desire to learn more.

[Leonardo Etcheto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book that makes you think. His introduction/explanation is top notch. I had a bit of a tougher slog reading through the actual Aristotle at the end of the book, mostly because of the style and having to remember the different definitions for words he uses vs our accepted definitions now. It was good to be reminded of how the Greek city states functioned and how much our democracy has changed. I did not realize representative democracy is considered such an advance. Very interesting.
Now I have to pick up Alan Ryan’s On Politics book.

[Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the layout of this book ; part one is commentary from Alan Ryan, which is fairly captivating. He does a great job summarizing Aristotle's work section to section. part two is all taken from Aristotle's "politics" and begins with his "nicomachean ethics". ,,,,, Aristotle's political philosophies have not held up very well , ie. his thoughts on women , slaves etc. , but what did hold up were his insights and reveries on the different forms of government, how they rise, how they fall, how to avoid the death of a city, how to prolong the life. ,,,,, His knowledge of antiquity is vast , so he takes us through particular examples of nations, tyrants, aristocracies, democracies , monarchies - cluing us in to how they fell or rose. ,,,,,,, those were the most interesting bits of Aristotle's primary text. some of the political philosophy that dealt with what I would consider outdated material was a little more of a chore to read. overall, I enjoyed this edition. Ryan gives a great introduction. beautiful physical copy as well.

[Sully Augustine · Rating 3 out of 5]

library hardbound. The first half of this little book is a very readable explanation of the philosopher's time and place in history followed by an occasionally somewhat contentious description of how his definitions of words and concepts differs from our modern concepts. The writer's upper-class British snobbishness shows in his description of why Aristotle believed the ancients needed slaves to do the sort of manual labor that makes a man unfit for politics and other "higher" intellectual work (i.e. in the same way the English aristocracy viewed those who engaged in manual labor and commerce as inferior to those who were "gentlemanly" reliant on income from land and investments).
I pretty much dodged the second half of the book because I wasn't up to the heavy work of deciphering the complex concepts after translation from the Greek to Arabic or whatever, and then finally to philosophical English.

[Donald Trump · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book consists of two parts: Alan Ryan's introduction on Aristotelian political theory and selection of Aristotle's Politics (Benjamin Jowett's translation). To be honest, the introduction provides some insights but is sometimes loose and too quick. I would suggest, for academic readers, reading Ryan's intro as another commentary alongside other better interpretations. Of course, for any general reader, it is also beneficial to read this book just to grasp a general idea about Aristotle's political philosophy.

[Onyx · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. Ryan turns philosophical concepts which are sometimes difficult to understand and ponderous to read into easily digestible, engaging passages. The unbiased and knowledgeable approach he takes highlights the strengths and weaknesses of Aristotle's ideas. I just wanted to keep reading!!!

[Elliot Lake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished everything aside from the selections section.

Reasonable explanation, but supremely uncontroversial to the point where his argument against slavery was somehow unconvincing, as it seemed to contradict Aristotle's own premises for slavery.

[Lee Fly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable and progressive view of Aristotle's works

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. This was an interesting read especially to see the perspectives of politics from Aristotle's viewpoint in Greece and how things have evolved but are still effected by the political systems described. I'm glad not all of our system of government was developed like Aristotle suggests.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads giveaways.

Exactly what i was looking for.

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. I won this in a contest and it was enjoyable. Thank you!

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book a interesting read,especially Aristotle views on slavery which were the same as in. the South before the Civil War. I won this book from Goodreads.