The Puzzle of the Political Animal: Nature and Artifice in Aristotle's Political Theory Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Several recent scholars have raised afresh the question of what Aristotle meant inPolitics1 by the statement that men are by nature political, that is, are political animals. This article addresses this quandary by reference to Aristotle's psychology and his notion of political education. It is argued that by concentrating on Aristotle's theory of human locomotion and its implications for moral choice, we may identify the relation he conceived between the polis and human nature. Specifically, the ability of humans to live according to their natures requires the systematic education afforded by the laws and institutions of the polis.

published proceedings

  • The Review of Politics

author list (cited authors)

  • Nederman, C. J.

citation count

  • 9

complete list of authors

  • Nederman, Cary J

publication date

  • January 1994