Theory of aristotle on slavery

Hellow friend today we will read about the theory of aristotle on slavery.
According to Aristotle, men want good life. To lead a good virtuous life, man
should have all necessary things. There are animate17 and inanimate
instruments that help to lead a good life. Property is inanimate instrument.
Utensils18 and furniture are examples of inanimate property. Slaves are animate
instruments. Slave is a domestic servant to do all the menial19 type of works in a family.

There is a basis for slavery. In the universe, there are superior beings and

inferior beings. Superior people are men of Soul20. They are the men of reason.

The inferior people are men of body or material. They are the men of appetite.

According to Aristotle, the superior must rule the inferior. The soul must rule

the body. Reason must rule over appetite. The masters posses intellectual

strength. The slaves possess physical strength only. The combination of both is

necessary for the survival of the household and the state. It is necessary for the

intellectual and moral development of the householder21 and the citizen. It is not

possible for the householder to live a good life without the slaves.

The slave also benefits from this arrangement. With his attachment to the

master, the slave also gets moral22 and intellectual23 virtues24. But it is only in a

second hand manner. This virtue is inferior25 also. If the Slave is with the

Master, he gets virtue in a second hand manner. If the Slave is without Master,

he gets no virtue. The choice for him is between no virtue or second hand virtue.

Thus, slavery is good for the slave. He gets some virtue by his attachment with

the Master. It enables him to share the virtuous life of the master. The Slave

becomes part of the Household. Thus the Slave becomes part of the state also.

Aristotle proposed certain conditions also for slavery. They can be

summarised as follows:-

1. In the society, the inferior should always be subordinate to the superior.

In the State, the Master is superior to the slave.

2. Inequality is a reality. Man is born superior and inferior. In the natural

way. Man must accept it. All are not born equal.

3. Just like human body, in the society also, there are different functions.

Each function should be performed by different people. Some functions

are superior and some other functions are inferior.

4. Slavery provides leisure for the Master. It helps him to lead a good life.

He shares his good life with the Slave.

5. Without slavery, the Greek social system will come down.

6. Human perfection can be attained only with the help of Slaves. Those

with strong mind have only weak physical abilities. Those with strong

physical abilities have weak minds.

7. Slaves should never be used for power or wealth.

8. Slaves are saved because of slavery. They can also lead a virtuous life in

a second hand manner. It is a question of virtue in a second hand

manner or no virtue at all.

so this is all about the theory of aristotle on slavery.