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THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ETHICS AND POLITICS IN ARISTOTLEВ’S POLITICS AND THE NICOMACHEAN ETHICS

V. Marola

Abstract

In the context of modern politics and social norms in Europe and in the world, it is important, now and then, to look into the ancient thought and find inspiration in the worldВ’s classical philosophical literature. We approach here the structure and motivation of AristotleВ’s two of his most important writings, Politics and The Nicomachean Ethics. We consider them to reflect the main characteristics of his rational approach on politics and morals; they enable us to see what lies at the historical foundation of these notions and the relationship between them. Both ethics and politics are concrete fields of public life, which shape its norms and rules. Ethics and politics engage the human being in a space of dialogical and propaedeutic formation, so that each one may find his or her place in the City. Each of the two domains has a purpose, while existing in a relation of inclusion or, at least, of complementarity. AristotleВ’s subjects in The Nicomachean Ethics are: the man in society, the role of contemplative life, the practice of virtues as the only way of attaining the state of happiness. In Politics, he fashions the image of the political man. AristotleВ’s contribution has a definite finality, therefore, the teleological dimension is obvious in both these writings. The notion of ethics is presented as a search of a political nature; hence, it has an auxiliary role, it is a counterpart of politics. It is also complementary, for honour is considered the purpose of political life. The relationship between the individual and the community lies at the basis of the relationship between ethics and politics.

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