Central Questions

1.      “But he who is unable to live in society, or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must be either a beast or a god.” Do you agree?  (Cassie Moy)

2.      Do you agree with Aristotle’s assertion that the ultimate end of men is happiness?  (Angela Han)

3.      “For man, when perfected, is the best of animals, but, when separated from laws and justice, he is the worst of all.” Are we only good natured because laws make us so?  (Avril Coley)

4.      Aristotle believes in the preservation of the family household, whereas Plato’s Republic would seek to abolish it. Who is right? Which society would truly function better?  (Andrew Huang)

5.      Aristotle says that “he who by nature and not by mere accident is without a state, is either a bad man or above humanity.” What do you think of this statement?  (Casey Griffin)

6.      What are the implications of Aristotle’s assertion that man can only fulfill his ultimate purpose through a political association with the state?  (Tousif Ahsan)

7.      Aristotle seems to predict our current financial crisis with his condemnation of that “which makes a gain out of money itself, and not from the natural object of it.” Do Aristotle’s objections to our modern understanding of capitalism have any validity?  (Esther Schoenfeld)

8.      While Socrates set aside what we consider to be the natural order (by separating children from their parents, for example), Aristotle puts a lot of trust in what he considers to be natural. Should we look to the natural order to determine justice?  (Esther Schoenfeld)

9.      Aristotle contends that an action that is “an interference with nature is therefore unjust.” Do you accept this definition of justice?  (Claire Littlefield)

10.  Is Aristotle’s argument for slavery at all valid?  (Sharada Sridhar)

11.  How similar is Aristotle’s view on the slaves to Plato’s individuals with bronze souls? How about their views on women? Which seems more logical, at least in terms of a perfect society? (Matthew Solomon)

12.  Is it true that a “natural ruler” and a subject are mutually dependent on one another? Is it impossible for men to exist without a state? (Sarah Kaplan)

13.  Is it legitimate to categorize the master as he who can “forsee by the exercise of mind,” while the slave is the one who can “with the body give effect to much foresight?” (Julie Kim)

Interesting Questions

14.  Aristotle seems to put a cap on how much wealth a family could, or should, obtain.  Is this compatible with American capitalism? If not, which is a better system?  (Masha Gindler)

15.  Aristotle describes marriage and reproduction as a “union which is formed, not of a deliberate purpose, but because, in common with other animals and plants, mankind have a natural desire to leave behind them an image of themselves.” Does this still hold true today?  (Sandesh Kataria)

16.  Are the “instruments of any art never unlimited?” What about the notion of creative potential?  (Kai Sam Ng)

17.  If each thing’s nature is revealed when it is fully developed, then are our identities (now as teens) valid?  (Allegra Wiprud)

18.  In our society, what are the instruments of production and the instruments of action? What are their values today?  (Dominika Burek)

19.  How does the presentation of Aristotle’s arguments compare with Plato’s Republic? Is it easier to understand? Harder? Does the use of the dialectic convey arguments further than Aristotle’s exact statements?  (Tammuz Huberman)

20.  Aristotle says that a complete household consists of slaves and freemen. Clearly, we would not agree with that.  What does a complete household consist of now, in your opinion?  (Omika Jikaria)

21.  Humans are the only animals that have the power of speech. Do we take advantage of this power?  (Omika Jikaria)

22.  Aristotle is another thinker who doesn’t seem to hold women in much respect.  How can we accept these philosopher truths when their objective good does not leave as much room for equality as our 21^st century view on women does?

Central Questions

23.  Do you accept selfishness as an essential, uncorrectable part of human nature, as Aristotle does? Can people be educated to work for the common good?  (Claire Littlefield)

24.  Are Aristotle’s practical objections to The Republic valid? How would Socrates respond?  (Esther Schoenfeld)

25.  Don’t most of Aristotle’s objections to The Republic involve particulars instead of the overall form?  (Phillip Yuen)

26.  Do you agree with Aristotle: “Friendship we believe to be the greatest good of states and the preservative of them against revolution.” Should we prioritize friendship and trust over law and regulation?  (Taha Ahsin)

27.  Are Aristotle’s attacks on Plato, for lack of a better phrase, fair and balanced?  (Kai Sam Ng)

28.  At the beginning of Chapter 2, Aristotle makes a very quick argument against Plato’s idea that greater unity os better that that “similars do not constitute a state.” Do you buy his argument and do you agree with his final assertion?  (Casey Griffin)

29.  Aristotle says, “But they are nearer the truth who combine many forms; for the constitution is better which is made up of more numerous elements.” Do you agree? Are governments better when they are unified in form or diverse?  (Jacob Sunshine)

30.  Are the “two qualities which chiefly inspire regard and affection—that a thing is your own and that it is your only one”—essential for the proper functioning of a state?  (Julie Kim)

31.  “The whole cannot be happy unless all or some of its parts are happy.” What do you think of this statement? What do you think Socrates would think of it?  (Sarah Kaplan)

32.  “The foundation of any city will always involve the division and distribution of its members into classes.” Do you agree? Is a classless society impossible?  (Masha Gindler)

33.  Do you agree with Aristotle that failings in the human character would preclude the survival of the Republic?  (Allegra Wiprud)

Interesting Questions

34.  “The beginning of reform is not so much to equalize property as to train the nobler sort of natures not to desire more, and to prevent the lower from getting more.” Is it possible to limit someone’s desire to consume, especially in our capitalist society?  (Sandesh Kataria)

35.  Do you agree that “the greatest crimes are caused by excess and not necessity?” (Tammuz Huberman)

36.  Is reason alone enough to govern one’s appetites and desires?  (Angela Han)

37.  “That which is common to the greatest number has the least care bestowed upon it.” Is this a tragedy of the commons type situation? Is it true that people are less likely to care for something if they know that it’s not solely their responsibility? What are the implications of this idea?  (Sarah Kaplan)

38.  Is a lack of personal interest the reason why communism has done badly?  (Allegra Wiprud)

Central Questions

39.  Is the concept of citizenship really integral to a state?  (Henry Lin)

40.  Aristotle says “practical wisdom only is characteristic of the ruler.” How does this answer Plato’s assertion that leaders must be able to look at the stars?  (Claire Littlefield)

41.  When is the use of ostracism justified?  (Andrew Huang)

42.  Do you agree that democracy “has in view the interest of the [needy] only?”  (Esther Schoenfeld)

43.  How does Aristotle’s definition of justice compare with the one found in the Republic?  (Michael Huang)

44.  Do you agree that “a citizen is one who shares in governing and being governed?” (Daniel Frankel)

45.  Aristotle claims that a true government is one—whether a democracy or an oligarchy—that serves with the common interest in mind. On the other hand, a government—whether it is serving the interests of the few or the many—that tailors its policies only to the interests of those within this group are considered “perversions.” Yet in a democracy, it seems inevitable that the majority will always get what it wants in terms of policies.  How else can a democracy operate?  (Paul Lee)

46.  Which are a greater liability to the government—the many or the few?  (Dominika Burek)

47.  How does Socrates’s  analysis of the ruler differ from that of Aristotle?  (Taha Ahsin)

48.  “For no man can practice virtue who is living the life of a mechanic or laborer.” What do you think of this?  (Casey Griffin)

49.  Must a citizen be an office-holder? Aren’t there other ways to contribute to the state or to society?  (Allegra Wiprud)

50.  Are “governments which rule with a view to the private interest, whether of the one, or of the few, or of the many” truly perversions?  (Julie Kim)

51.  Is being good different from being a good citizen? If so, which is more important?  (Sarah Kaplan)

52.  “All must have the virtue of the good citizen—thus, and thus only, can the state be perfect; but they must not have the virtue of a good man, unless we assume that in a good state all the citizens must be good.” What do you think of this argument?  (Sharada Sridhar)

Interesting Questions

53.  Do modern Americans meet Aristotle’s definition of citizenship?  (Evan Smith)

54.  What would make a single individual superior to the rest?  (Nadia Hossain)

55.  With interconnected economies and issues like global warming, is there a need to be a global citizen in today’s word?  (Masha Gindler)

56.  As a state, would you rather have more good men or good citizens?  (Matthew Solomon)

57.  In Aristotle’s mind democracy is the [one of the] worst forms of government because it is rule by the poor. Would Aristotle think of our government as rule by the poor?  (Anna Gordan)

58.  “Hence the many are better judges than a single man of music and poetry; for some understand one part, and some another, and among them they understand the whole.” What do you think of this argument for the masses? What would Socrates think?  (Sharada Sridhar)

Central Questions

59.  Aristotle claims that democracy is the “most tolerable” form of the perverse forms of government. Do you agree with Aristotle or do you agree with Socrates that democracy is [the second] worst?  (Sandesh Kataria)

60.  Is being armed a good qualification for being able to vote?  (Phillip Yuen)

61.  Why is Aristotle so concerned with the sovereignty of the law?  (Carl Guthwin)

62.  “For the best is often unattainable”—does that mean that we should resign ourselves to only what is “that which is best relative to circumstance?” Should government include mechanisms of betterment?  (Cassie Moy)

63.  Which is more influential, for better or for worse, in the state—the quantity or the quality?  (Dominika Burek)

64.  Is a Polity achievable? Has any society truly maintained this balance between rich and poor? Is class conflict inevitable?  (Jacob Sunshine)

65.  Are people of the mean really the only ones to have rational thought?  (Marley Lindsey)

66.  If the law, and not public office holders, should be sovereign, does that mean that there is an objective law? How do we find this law? Through public office holders? Through the people? Through what methods?  (Kai Sam Ng)

67.  Aristotle states that a government should be aware of “which is best in the abstract,” and “which is best relative to circumstances.” In our current government, where legislating is often seen as separate from enforcement, can these two be reconciled? Should the legislative branch be overly concerned with regulating the bureaucracies that interpret the law?  (Paul Lee)

68.  “We should consider, not only what form of government is best, but also what is possible and what is attainable by all.” Is this idea of government feasible? Can we find a middle ground between attainability and effectiveness? Which do we prioritize?  (Taha Ahsin)

69.  Do you agree with Aristotle’s criticism of Plato’s Republic that even in a city of necessity, political classes (the military, the wealthy and the magistrates) are required in order to maintain the state?  (Andrew Huang)

70.  Do you agree with the idea of paying the poor and fining the rich so that they participate in government? How would implementing that affect our democracy today?  (Julia Kaplan)

71.  “Political writers, although they may have excellent ideas, are often impractical.” Even though this may be a jab at Plato, does Aristotle succumb to his own criticism as well? Is he impractical  (Daniel Frankel)

72.  Aristotle asserts that the best political partnership is one that depends on the middling sort and that a regime in which the middle element is proportionately larger compared to the other two elements is the most capable of being well-governed since the middling element does not engage in faction conflict, and therefore cities with a larger middling element are more stable.  Do you agree? Do the best legislators come from among the middling element? Does this hold true for our government?  (Angela Han)

73.  Aristotle says “we should consider, not only what form of government is best, but also what is possible and what is attainable by all.” Do you agree?  (Matthew Solomon)

74.  “Even badly established laws can be obeyed… the people may obey either the best laws possible for them, or the unqualifiedly best ones,.” How does this statement play into the good man/good citizen issue? Do you think it is alright for people to obey only the laws they thing are good? (Think of Gandhi, Martin Luther King, etc.) (Sarah Kaplan)

Interesting Questions

75.  Aristotle claims that when individuals have leisure to participate in government, the supremacy of law is undermined. How does this challenge our system, which requires active citizens to function?  (Claire Littlefield

76.  Is Aristotle’s tripartite governing model vindicated by America’s success? Are there more successful models of government, like the Westminster model?  (Evan Smith)

77.  According to Aristotle’s criteria, are we truly living in a democracy, oligarchy or aristocracy? For an alternative perspective, consider our power structure as opposed to our governmental system.  (Jacob Sunshine)

78.  Is it possible, particularly in today’s society, to have rulers who have “neither so much as to be able to live without attending to business, nor so little as to need state support [so that] they must admit the rule of law and not claim to rule themselves?”  (Julie Kim)

79.  Is our government today a democracy in which “the demagogues make the decrees of the people override the laws, by referring all things to the popular assembly?” That is, is our democracy even a true democracy?  (Andrew Huang)

80.  Can any tyranny be a decent enough form of government?  (Allegra Wiprud)

81.  Aristotle measures the quality of a city through “freedom, wealth, education, [and] good birth.” Would you agree? What would you add or remove from this list?  (Sharada Sridhar)

82.  Aristotle asserts that a city state must be self-sufficient by definition. In a globalized world, is any nation self-sufficient anymore?  (Sarah Kaplan)

Central Questions

83.  “The democrats think that as they are equal they ought to be equal in all things.” Should we be equal in all things? Is inequality necessary sometimes?  (Avril Coley)

84.  What is “equality according to proportion?” Is this a valid goal?  (Esther Schoenfeld)

85.  Is a heterogeneous state necessarily factious?  (Allegra Wiprud)

86.  “The ruler who has a care of the constitution should invent terrors and bring distant dangers near, in order that the citizens may be on their guard.” Is the constitution of a state meant to be preserved at all costs? Is this Machiavellian concept in fact an undermining of the supreme law of the land?  (Jacob Sunshine)

87.  “The proper remedy for this evil is always to give the management of affairs and offices of state to opposite elements; such opposites are the virtuous and the many, or the rich and the poor.” Do you agree?  (Andrew Huang)

88.  Are the extremities of the political system always to be avoided? Weren’t the abolitionists, and American revolutionaries, and many others extremists?  (Henry Lin)

89.  If constitutional change is based on different conceptions of justice, is it possible for a government to be based on absolute justice alone? Will a constitution based on the middle necessarily be more just than one of an extreme?  (Michelle Huang)

90.  Is loyalty to an established constitution always an important quality for a leader?  (Marley Lindsey)

91.  “The universal and chief cause of this revolutionary feeling has already been mentioned; viz. the desire of equality…” Do you agree with this? Could revolution stem from other emotions or hopes?  (Sharada Sridhar)

92.  Aristotle disagrees with Socrates’s idea of the cyclical nature of governments and asks why a perfect state would ever succumb to revolution. Do you agree that a truly ideal government would never need to change?  (Sarah Kaplan)

93.  Is it legitimate to have some offices filled in regards to skill, and others virtue, as Aristotle believes? Or should consideration of either skill or virtue take precedence in all cases?  (Julie Kim)

Interesting Questions

94.  “And in democracies, the notables revolt, because they are not equals and yet have only an equal share.” Do we see this in our own society today?  (Casey Griffin)

95.  Should the masses ever be deceived even if they are wrong?  (Nadia Hossain)

96.  Do you agree with the potential causes of factions that Aristotle identifies? For example, do large numbers of immigrants threaten our society?  (Sandesh Kataria)

97.  “Yet no forms of government are so short-lived as oligarchy and tyranny.” How could this make sense in the present day where authoritarian regimes seem to thrive? Has anything changed since Aristotle’s time in terms of the functioning of the state to allow this, and, if so, what changed?  (Kai Sam Ng)

98.  Can a constitutional change imposed by a neighbor and/or conqueror be legitimate?  (Tousif Ahsan)

99.  Based on Aristotle’s guidelines for preservation of a constitution, do you think that our system of government is sustainable?  (Michelle Huang)

Central Questions

100.          Is survival the most important goal of government?  (Maaz Tambra)

101.          Are constitutions enough to legitimize any sort of government? Even oligarchies?  (Paul Lee)

102.          “…that a man should not hold the same office twice, or not often, or in the case of few except military offices.” Is there merit in this kind of system?  (Avril Coley)

103.          How can Aristotle call for “the will of those whose qualification, when both sides are added up, are the greatest” to prevail, while also espousing the virtues of the mean?  (Julie Kim)

104.          Do you agree that “when absolute freedom is allowed; there is nothing to restrain the evil which is inherent in every man?”  (Tammuz Huberman)

105.          Aristotle says that democracies work best with an agricultural population because “being poor, they have not leisure, and therefore often do not attend the assembly.” Usually we say that a low turnout is one of the problems of our society. Are we incorrect?  (Casey Griffin)

106.          Can directing the public worship be a legitimate office today?  (Nadia Hossain)

107.          Aristotle credits the popularity of democracy to the fact that “most persons would rather live in a disorderly than a sober manner.” What do you think of this? Is democracy disorderly?  (Julia Kaplan)

108.          Do you agree that “it is always the weaker who go in search of justice and equality; the strong need nothing of them?”  (Allegra Wiprud)

109.          “When there are surplus revenues the demagogues should not be allowed after their manner to distribute the surplus.” Do you agree that allowing the government to give too much to the poor is dangerous to democracy? (Think of Huey Long). Or is the government obligated to share its wealth with its people?  (Sarah Kaplan)

110.          Are there any major differences in the cohesion between classes that are Aristotle and Plato?  (Tousif Ahsan)

111.          Does democracy promote equality? Is this form of government really the closest to equality?  (Daniel Frankel)

Interesting Questions

112.          All of Politics says that democracies choose positions by lot. The U.S. chooses nothing by lot. Does this fundamentally change our democracy from the idea Aristotle had?  (Casey Griffin)

113.          Is it against democratic values to treat equals equally and unequals unequally if there were some objective way to distinguish the two?  (Julia Kaplan)

114.          Do you agree that “most people prefer to live undisciplined lives, for they find that more enjoyable than restraint?”  (Allegra Wiprud)

115.          “Every contrivance should be adopted which will mingle the citizens with one another and get rid of old connections.” Do you agree? Has America’s melting pot achieved Aristotle’s goal?  (Matthew Solomon)

116.          “Extreme poverty lowers the character of the democracy; measures therefore should be taken which will give them lasting prosperity.” Is this the intent of America’s social welfare policies?  (Daniel Frankel)

Central Questions

117.          “For a state is not a community of living beings only, but a community of equals, aiming at the best possible life.” What do you think of this idea? Is this what a democracy is striving to be?  (Casey Griffin)

118.          What do you think of Aristotle’s statement that ‘to open one’s state to foreigners brought up under a different legal code, is detrimental to government by good laws? [emphasis added] (Allegra Wiprud)

119.          Do we agree with Aristotle that it is unsatisfying to spend a life governing others? Don’t fine statesmen deserve a certain respect not accorded to philosophers?  (Evan Smith)

120.          Is Aristotle’s continuous obsession with moderation cop out?  (Kai Sam Ng)

121.          Do you agree that happiness is activity?  (Julia Kaplan)

122.          Would you rather live in Plato’s city or Aristotle’s?  (Maaz Tambra)

123.          How does Aristotle’s view of the philosopher’s contemplative life contrast with Socrates’ idea of the philosopher king?  (Daniel Frankel)

124.          Aristotle asserts that all citizens should own property, while Socrates feels that private property corrupts those who participate in government. Which do you feel is more accurate? Is it important for citizens to have a stake in their government or to make decisions regardless of personal profit?  (Sarah Kaplan)

125.          Aristotle asserts that individuals can be educated through nature, habit and reason.  Is this enough to equip individuals with the chance to prove their merit?  (Tousif Ahsan)

126.          “Nothing contrary to nature is good.” What do you think about this statement?  (Sharada Sridhar)

127.          Aristotle says, “if the soul is more noble than our possessions of our bodies, the best state has a similar ratio.” Is the purity of the soul really more important when governing a state? Can the best state truly be the best with respect to possessions? (Jacob Sunshine)

128.          Is location as important as Aristotle says it is? Can a good, just government be located in an undesirable place?  (Matthew Solomon)

Interesting Questions

129.          “A good man may make the best even of poverty and disease and the other ills of life; but he can only attain happiness under the opposite conditions.” Is this true?  (Casey Griffin)

130.          Do you agree that people are more driven to be just and restrained in times of tribulation but are more easily swayed away from virtue in times of leisure?  (Allegra Wiprud)

131.          Does America’s size and/or diversity hinder our ability to “know each other’s characters” and “judge and distribute offices according to merit?  (Julie Kim)

132.          Aristotle dismisses a large state as impractical, for “who can be the general of such a vast multitude, unless he have the voice of a Stentor?” Has modern communication solved this problem, or do large states still lack unity?  (Claire Littlefield)

133.          Aristotle says that the older should rule the younger, because this is a natural distinction and a person rules more finely if he has been ruled first.  Do you agree?  (Angela Han)

134.          Is it possible for a state today to remain entirely self-sufficient?  (Michelle Huang)

Central Questions

135.          “And always the better the character the better the government.” Do you agree? What implications does this idea have?  (Casey Griffin)

136.          What are the major differences between the Socratic and Aristotelian views on education?  (Sandesh Kataria)

137.          What does Aristotle’s (ironic?) invocation of the poet Homer (who was himself a bard) tell us about his worldview?  (Carl Guthwin)

138.          Aristotle differs from Socrates in that he doesn’t make math one of the major forms of study. Should math be necessary?  (Nadia Hossain)

139.          Aristotle says “The citizen should be molded to suit the form of government under which he lives.” What do you think of this statement?  (Tammuz Huberman)

140.          Why does Aristotle hold such scorn for professional musicians? Would he also disdain any highly specialized professions?  (Allegra Wiprud)

141.          “To young children should be imparted only such kinds of knowledge as will be useful to them without vulgarizing them.” Do you agree? Are there certain types of knowledge that can vulgarize?  (Kai Sam Ng)

142.          “Now obviously youths are not to be instructed with a view to their amusement, for learning is no amusement, but is accompanied pain.” Must learning be accompanied with any form of pain?  (Jane Zelenko)

143.          “Neither must we suppose that any one of the citizens belongs to himself, for they all belong to the state, and each of them a part of the state, and the care of each part is inseparable from the care of the whole.” What do you think of this statement? Could it ever be feasible?  (Sharada Sridhar)

144.          Is obtaining knowledge only “good” when a man “does or learns anything for his own sake or for the sake of friends, with a view to excellence?” Is Aristotle’s definition of “bad” knowledge valid?  (Julie Kim)

145.          Aristotle believes that “leisure is better than occupation,” and “to be always seeking the useful does not become free and exalted souls.” Do you agree? Is there value to things done purely for recreation? And how does this fit in with Aristotle’s teleological view of the world?  (Sarah Kaplan)

146.          Why does public education better serve the overall ends of the city, as opposed to private education?  (Anna Gordan)

147.          Why does Aristotle spend the last book of Politics discussing music? What does this add to the overall work and are they truly related?  (Matthew Solomon)

148.          Aristotle says, “Both are required, but leisure is better than occupation and its end.” Is the principle of all action leisure? (Jacob Sunshine)

Interesting Questions

149.          Do better educated people have a higher understanding of music than the “vulgar crowd?”  (Esther Schoenfeld)

150.          It is difficult, if not impossible, for those who do not perform to be good judges of the performances of others.” Does American Idol have it all wrong? Have we forgone Aristotelian standards for music, as artists are now subject to the public’s approval?  (Paul Lee)

151.          Do professional musicians work for self-fulfillment or the pleasure of others?  (Daniel Frankel)

152.          Aristotle says, “Parents who devote their children to gymnastics in reality vulgarize them.” In our culture of soccer moms and screaming sideline fathers, is this becoming a more prevalent case? Is this vulgarization?  (Jacob Sunshine)