Aristotle, Politics book 1 | Natural and Unnatural Slavery | Philosophy Core Concepts

This is a video in my new Core Concepts series -- designed to provide students and lifelong learners a brief discussion focused on one main concept from a classic philosophical text and thinker.

This Core Concept video focuses on Aristotle's work, the Politics, and examines his discussion in book 1 bearing on slavery, and whether it is simply unnatural and therefore unjust, or whether in some cases it is natural. Aristotle argues that there are some people who are "natural slaves", but this class is smaller in his work than the much wider extension of those who would later use Aristotle to justify slavery in the Americas lent that concept.

My videos are used by students, lifelong learners, other professors, and professionals to learn more about topics, texts, and thinkers in philosophy, religious studies, literature, social-political theory, critical thinking, and communications. These include college and university classes, British A-levels preparation, and Indian civil service (IAS) examination preparation

#philosophy #Aristotle #metaphysics

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[pedrofroes]

Hi Dr. Sadler,

Aren't these lessons on Politics by Aristotle going to continue? I hope so, as they are really good.
It's great to be able to learn so synthetically with these videos.
Thank you very much! You made my study and my love for Aristotle meet in an even more pleasant way.

[TheJociman]

Thanks, you teach well. The conclusion sounds more like the definition of guardian, parent, menthor or interventive authority than master-slave realtonship. You take over certain freedoms from someone because they don't have the capacity to do handle things on their own. I think the difference is whether they are given the chance to exit that realtionship upon growing, improving themselves, as you pointed out. Great lesson.

[bigwin]

I have watched a number of your videos and they are very helpful.

[OneMan-wlwj]

Good stuff. Well done. Much appreciated.

[kriti_]

Damn that "natural master" point was solid

[Martinlutherweeikz]

Hello Dr Sadler!
Was wondering if you think Aristotle's thoughts on slavery have any redeeming features.


Thanks old buddy old pal and keep up the great work :)

[Retrogamer]

Can the force of virtues not be also the formulation of personal polity?

[simonpanteli]

do you think anything at all can be said in defence about his theory of natural slavery?

[mahid]

How would you relate slavery to these three branches of philosophy? I'd like to hear your answer;
Ethics
Metaphysics
Politcs

[JoshV]

Kind of a bummer to listen to a great classical thinker like Aristotle jump through hoops to try to justify slavery. I wonder if Aristotle ever thought of testing his theory of "natural slavery". He could have taken one who was "suited to be a slave" as a student and educate them in virtue and reason to the point where the slave could try take care of his own affairs, thus disproving the notion of "natural slavery". Its my understanding in ancient Greece that slaves could be educated in fields like medicine, hard to think that someone who could study physical health to the point of treating others couldn't be trusted to educate themselves on reason and virtue and live a "good life" without the need of a master. The idea of "natural slave" seems like it could have easily been logically disproven even in Aristotle's time, and as bright as the man was seems like he would have known that, which is disappointing.