The Association of the Household and Its Different Factors

Joseph Arquillo

Introduction to Politics

Professor Hale

Friday, September 20, 2013

Throughout “The Association of the Household and its Different Factors” in Aristotle’s Politics one is presented with the constituent elements of the household. The first one described is the relationship between a master and slave. In chapter four, a slave is defined as “a possession of the animate sort,” meaning that he is an instrument of action and belongs completely to the master; one who does not belong to himself by nature. Now in chapter five, we, the readers, must identity whether such a person exists by nature or not, and whether or not it is advantageous for anyone to be a slave.

In the text it is a necessity to examine the proper relationship between the body and soul as parallel to the different types of rule. “The soul rules the body with the authority of the master: reason rules the appetite with the authority of a statesmen or a monarch.” Mainly the soul rules the body as a master rules a slave, and the intellect rules the appetite like a king rules a city. It is both natural and beneficial for the soul to rule the body.

In the chapter it is difficult for one to see the beauty of the soul, because it is challenging to define a “natural slave.” One realizes that a “natural slave” is one who perceives reason, but does not have reason itself. The “natural slaves” are not in possession of the full use of reason because “all men who differ from others as much as the body differs from the soul.” Yet, for those who are “natural slaves,” it is clear that “slavery is both beneficial and just.”

The problem with Aristotle’s argument rests on his assertion that natural slaves, people who lack rationally and therefore cannot exercise their own freedom, do exist. He states that it is beneficial for such individuals to be enslaved since their master can give to them the knowledge they lack. Although Aristotle believes that slavery is by nature, slaves must hold some sort of rationally if they are to follow orders and respond to commands.