Summary Of Aristotle's Theory Of Slavery

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According to Aristotle the State is composed of households. A complete household consists of slaves and freeman. He considered salves as the parts of household management. Slave is a living possession of family whereas property is a lifeless possession. He wholly belongs to the master. A slave differs from his master because of difference of power of reasoning and understanding, the master having far superior reasoning power than the slave. Postulate of Slavery: Aristotle theory of Slavery rests upon the following postulates: a) By nature men are unequal and divided with respect to their capacities for virtue. b) It is possible to determine who is virtuous and who is non virtuous. Slavery secures the best condition for the slaves. A slave shares his master’s life and therefore, in a way his excellence. Slavery is…show more content…
Slavery is essential for all round development, an integral point of growth. Master has no right to misuse his power and authority. Slave is not subordinate but only assistant. 6. He was opposed to the idea of using force for slavery. Only those should be enslaved who were inferior in understanding and virtue. He rejects the idea of slavery by inheritance. Limitations of Slavery: Although Aristotle has tried to justify the institution of slavery by saying it to be natural institution and necessary for good life, yet such an idealisation of the institution of slavery sounds very unnatural and unconvincing to a student of politics in modern times, not only that, the argument of Aristotle lack consistency. His theory have been put under searching criticism on account of certain inherent defects:- 1. Slave by nature or by law Aristotle has not fixed up any criteria to determine as to who is natural slave and who is not. By saying that some people are by nature slave, he has made it a hereditary institution which is most undesirable. A distinction should be made between a slave by nature and a slave by law. 2. No legal
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