Aristotle’s POLITICS: Book VIII Basic Ideas & Analysis -- Chapter 1

1. Aristotle’s POLITICS: Book VIIIBasic Ideas & Analysis -- Chapter 1 • The legislator's primary concern should be the education of the young. • Education must be public and in common, because there is a single end for the city as a whole. • Citizens do not belong to themselves, but rather all belong to the city

2. Aristotle’s POLITICS: Book VIII – Ch 3 • The four customary areas of education are letters, gymnastics, music and drawing. • While music is not necessary, it is important because it is with a view to spending leisure time well.

3. Aristotle’s POLITICS: Book VIII – Ch 3 • Some of the useful areas of learning should also be sought not only with a view to utility, but with a view to enable the student to reach higher levels of learning. • Seeking utility above all is not fitting for those who are magnanimous and free.

4. Aristotle’s POLITICS: Book VIII – Ch 3/4 • Since education through habits must precede education through reason and education of the body must precede education of the mind, gymnastics must be the first thing taught to children. • Chapter 4: [Yet] Gymnastics needs to be pursued moderately, so that it not take precedence over the other subjects, which train the mind.

5. Aristotle’s POLITICS: Book VIII – Ch 5 • Music is for the sake of education, play and pastime. • Play is for the sake of rest, which should be pleasant, & music is one of the most pleasant things. • But some human beings have made play their ultimate end, because the end does in fact involve pleasure.

6. Aristotle’s POLITICS: Book VIII – Ch 5/6 • Music itself is good for education because the harmonious blend of sounds leads the soul to balance the passions harmoniously in accordance with reason. • Chapter 6: Children should actively participate in the making of music themselves through singing or playing instruments, because it provides them with a noble pastime and keeps them out of trouble. • "Education is a rattle for the young."

7. Analysis: Aristotle’s POLITICS Education is the best means of preserving a regime and should be the legislator's greatest concern. • The value that Aristotle places on education is rooted in his emphasis on the goal of the city as living well. • Since the raison d'être of the city is to help its citizens live the good life, teaching citizens to be virtuous is of primary importance. • Furthermore, having well-educated and virtuous citizens will also help the city as a whole to be better.

8. Analysis: Aristotle’s POLITICS A proper education in virtue requires habituation and proper intellectual formation. • Education is not just an intellectual matter, but is the education of the soul in virtue, only part of which is intellectual.

9. Analysis: Aristotle’s POLITICS • Before children are ready for intellectual training, however, they must learn virtues of self-discipline through gymnastics, • And must acquire a taste for harmony in music so that they will be inclined to seek the harmony of their souls through a proper balance in which the appetites are subordinated to the rule of reason.

10. Aristotle on the Value of Music The three benefits of music: • Education [ch 5] • Purgation [Poetics] • Relaxation [ch 3]