Equality: a tipped scale Aristotle's ideal state is one where it’s society has ‘some inequality” amongst its ‘polis’ where its ‘politês’ are proportionately equal (Aristotle, Book 6). Inequality is demonstrated by Aristotle's ideal state through proportionate equality. Proportionate equality is where equality is granted “according to proportion” (Aristotle, Book 7). The amount an individual contributes to society determines how much they are rewarded. For example state officials had a high status because they were considered to contribute greatly to society. Equality would be greater for an official compared to a tradesmen according to the proportion they contribute to society. This inequality is narrated through Aristotle’s distaste for …show more content…
The master possess ‘rational’ abilities such as the power to be a leader, while a slave lacks the ability because they are ‘irrational’. However the ability for a person to be suited to be a master or slave is inherited. People are usually born in to class status for example landowners land would be passed down generations, also passing the status of owning land. The concept of ruling and ruled elements can be related to Slavery in the United States during the late 1700s. Slaves were prominently African-American were brought from Caribbean countries for the purpose of labor work. The master usually owned land and slaves during the Slave trade era. Slaves would work on their masters land in the hopes to produce food and other means to gain capital. Majority of what was produced would go to the owner of the land giving them a surplus and leisure time. Class divisions are clearly distinct where the slaves worked under their master. Slaves during this time period were also not granted the same rights as their rulers which is an example of Aristotle's proportionate equality. Politics was also left to people of higher class, slaves were regarded as inferior and not able to participate in political