POLS205 / PHIL210: Classical Political Philosophy | Assignment 3: Exegesis of Aristotle’s Politics
Assignment Context
Following our analysis of Plato’s ideal state and the metaphysical foundations of justice in earlier modules, we turn to Aristotle’s empirical methodology. Political science and philosophy departments require students to execute tight textual analyses (exegesis) to demonstrate an accurate reading of primary source logic. You are tasked with analyzing Aristotle’s foundational claim that the state (polis) is a natural entity. Rely strictly on Book I of Aristotle’s Politics to isolate his teleological arguments concerning human nature, community formation, and the purpose of language.
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Assignment Instructions & Requirements
Write a 1,000-to 1,200-word paper that provides a rigorous exegesis of Aristotle’s argument for the naturalness of the state. You must trace his logical progression from the household to the village, and finally to the self-sufficient city-state. Avoid generalizing the text; focus entirely on the specific mechanics of his argument.
- Isolate the Primary Claim: State clearly how Aristotle defines the “natural” progression of human communities in the opening chapters of Book I.
- Analyze the Evidence: Detail Aristotle’s use of the “political animal” (zoon politikon) concept. Explain how he uses human speech (logos) as biological proof of our innate political orientation.
- Evaluate the Conclusion: Address his assertion that the state is logically prior to the individual. Clarify why Aristotle believes an individual existing outside the state is either a beast or a god.
- Formatting Rules: Submit your document as a .pdf file. Maintain double spacing, Times New Roman 12pt font, and 1-inch margins. Use Chicago Manual of Style (Notes and Bibliography) or standard Harvard formatting for all textual citations.
Assessment Guidelines & Marking Rubric
Your exegesis will be evaluated on your ability to reconstruct Aristotle’s internal logic rather than imposing modern political biases onto the ancient text. The following criteria apply:
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| Criteria | High Distinction (90-100) | Proficient (75-89) | Basic (60-74) | Inadequate (0-59) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Textual Reconstruction | Flawlessly maps Aristotle’s teleological logic. Integrates primary text seamlessly into the analysis. | Correctly identifies the main arguments but occasionally slips into summary rather than active analysis. | Describes the text loosely. Misses the specific connection between speech, nature, and the state. | Misinterprets the text or relies purely on secondary summaries instead of the primary source. |
| Conceptual Precision | Demonstrates exact knowledge of teleology, the polis, and the distinction between mere voice and speech (logos). | Uses key terms correctly most of the time. Definitions are generally accurate. | Vague application of philosophical terminology. Struggles to define teleology. | Fails to use core concepts or defines them incorrectly. |
| Academic Mechanics | Syntax is professional and authoritative. Zero grammatical errors. Citations are flawlessly formatted. | Writing is clear and organized. Contains only minor stylistic or formatting inconsistencies. | Frequent grammatical errors disrupt readability. Citations are incomplete or inconsistent. | Writing is disorganized. Lacks formal citations. Fails word count constraints. |
Submit a 4-to 5-page paper analyzing Aristotle’s teleological claims about human nature, community formation, and the fundamental purpose of language in the classical city-state
Aristotle asserts the polis exists by nature and that human beings are inherently political animals. He grounds his argument in the teleological assumption that every community aims at some good, and the state, being the highest community, aims at the highest good. Language serves as the biological proof of our political nature because it allows humans to articulate justice and injustice, unlike animals that only express pain or pleasure. Through logical progression, the family grows into a village, and the village evolves into the self-sufficient polis. As Kraut notes, this natural progression implies that anyone who can exist outside the state must be either a beast or a god (Kraut, 2022). Ultimately, the survival of the individual relies entirely on the prior existence of the state framework.
Works Cited & Learning Materials
- Cammack, D., 2019. Aristotle on the Democratization of Justice. American Political Science Review, 113(3), pp.695-708. Available at: [https://doi.org/10.1017/S000305541900015X](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://doi.org/10.1017/S000305541900015X)
- Inamura, K., 2018. Justice and Reciprocity in Aristotle’s Political Philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Available at: [https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316823339](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316823339)
- Kraut, R., 2022. Aristotle’s Political Theory. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2022 Edition), Edward N. Zalta & Uri Nodelman (eds.). Available at: [https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2022/entries/aristotle-politics/](https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2022/entries/aristotle-politics/)
- Leunissen, M., 2018. From Natural Character to Moral Virtue in Aristotle. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at: [https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198776918.001.0001](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198776918.001.0001)