Nature, Justice, and Rights in Aristotle's Politics

Abstract

Argues that nature, justice, and rights are central to Aristotle's political thought. Challenges the widely held view that the concept of rights is alien to Aristotle, arguing that his theory of justice supports claims of individual rights, which are political and based in nature. Begins with an examination of three main elements in Aristotle's political theory: nature, justice, and rights. The discussion of Aristotle's political naturalism seeks to show how Aristotle can consistently argue that the polis (city‐state) exists by nature and yet is, in a way, the product of human reason. The discussion of justice focuses on the distinction between universal and particular justice and the political applications of each type of justice. The discussion of rights offers evidence of ‘rights’ locutions in Aristotle and contrasts Aristotle's theory of rights with modern theories of natural rights. The book next investigates the constitutional applications of Aristotle's theory, including a discussion of Aristotle's general account of citizenship and constitutions, followed by a study of the best constitution, the second‐best constitution, and deviant constitutions. The main thesis is that Aristotle's theory of political rights is a form of moderate individualism and thus a noteworthy alternative to the extreme‐individualistic theories of rights advanced by many modern philosophers. There is also a separate discussion of Aristotle's views on property rights. The final chapter considers the prospects for neo‐Aristotelian political theory through an examination of Aristotle's main presuppositions––natural teleology, perfectionism, community, and rulership––concluding that Aristotle's political principles may still be defensible, albeit in a circumscribed and qualified manner.