Aristotle’s Ideal State. Explained.
“Law is reason unaffected by desire.” Aristotle
Aristotle’s ideal state is based on the rule of law. According to Aristotle, laws are less arbitrary and more fair since they are impersonal as compared to rule by men. Aristotle argued that a rightly constituted law should be the final authority.
The above view of Aristotle was a response to Plato’s idea of the rule of Philosopher King. Plato reasoned that no law or ordinance is mightier than knowledge. He recommended absolute power for the Philosopher King by saying that that neither law nor public opinion should be limiting the wisdom of the Philosopher King. According to Plato, law represents average wisdom and public opinion reflects ignorance. On the contrary, the Philosopher King represents absolute wisdom or the knowledge of the ultimate Idea of Good. Plato argued that it is foolish to limit an expert practitioner of medicine with a book of medicine.
Aristotle criticised Plato’s Rule of the Philosopher King as a utopia. It is next to impossible to find such a person. On the other hand, power has corrupting influence. A system of government without any check on the arbitrary use of power by the rulers is dangerous and undesirable.
For Aristotle, law is impersonal and impartial. It comes with insurance against the abuse of authority. In this sense, rule of law is preferable to that to a single person.
Plato’s one of the main arguments in favour of the Rule of Philosopher King was the superiority of reason. According to Aristotle, what we expect from reason is also achieved by law. Reason tells us what is right and wrong, and so does law. Law represents the collective wisdom of ages. This collective wisdom of people is superior to that of the wisest ruler. As George Sabine says, “Public opinion must be admitted to be not only an unavoidable force but also a justifiable standard in politics”.
According to Aristotle, an ideal State is an association of equals. No class has an absolute claim to power, for the law is sovereign. A good State must be ruled in accordance with law.
Aristotle was convinced that rule of law is better than rule of reason. Reason is not devoid of passion. Although reason dominates in the Philosopher King, appetite is also present in his soul. It is never certain whether passion will not overcome reason in him in the event of which there is no check on the abuse of power.
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