Aristotle's State Theory

Aristotle’s claim that the state is the highest, most developed form of social organisation is at the centre of one of his major works, ‘The Politics’ . His theory focuses mainly on the state as a natural progression, and draws upon two central themes; ‘the good life’ and human beings as ‘political animals’ . Whilst Aristotle does raise many valid points, he does not convince us that the state is the pinnacle of social organisation. Although the state may be the highest form of social organisation, Aristotle fails to demonstrate how an active, political life equals a ‘good life’. Aristotle’s major use of teleology is another drawback, which limits his argument in many ways. To illustrate these concerns it is important to analysis Aristotle’s argument in its entirety and to put it in its context. Also, a critical analysis of his two major themes, that of ‘the good life’ and man as a ‘political animal’, will allow us to understand where Aristotle does indeed fail.
Aristotle's 'The Politics' encompasses many themes and topics, some of which provide the basis for the state being the highest form of social organisation. Written during the fourth century BC , Aristotle’s work forms the basis for many arguments concerning philosophy and is still extensively used today. Aristotle claims that the state is a natural process, and in order to understand its complexity it is necessary to study the state in its “first growth and origin” . It is natural for human beings to live within the state and natural for humans to reach their potential within it. Furthermore, Aristotle also places a strong emphasis on good and evil in his work. The state is a natural process, and therefore it has a natural end, anything that disrupts this process is evil. Perfection is also important in Aristotle’s work, which can be achieved by man within the state. Aristotle’s teleological approach is highly important to his argument and reaffirms many of the points he raises. The good life is at the

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