Abstract
Albert Einstein, in a letter to a Rumanian friend Maurice Solvine
from Princeton U.S.A. on April 10, 1938, says: “A fashion rule
each age, without most people being able to see the tyrants that
rule them” Although man as Aristotle opines is a political animal
who desires and longs to live in a community with his species,
he is the best of all the animals that rule and guided by laws. In
the same vein, man could be the worst of all animals when there
is anarchy. It is in the light of this that Aristotle opts for a
government that would be beneficial to the people. The
researcher would make an attempt to explain what a good
government is, according to Aristotle, and also analyze them in
the light of the Nigerian situation.
The question: Who should rule? For what purpose? And what is
the best form of government are fundamental questions in
Aristotle’s concept of good government that this thesis intends to
answer.
1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Government is ubiquitous, its rules and laws affect important
aspects of our lives, just as its actions and inactions determine,
in very significant ways, the quality of our existence. But
although the activities a governments have, for a long time, been
fundamental to human existence, not many people have a clear
understanding of the foundations of government, particularly,
it’s nature, powers and the conditions for the appropriate
performance of its function.1 Aristotle believes that for any
society to operate well, it must have a governing body. This has a
practical importance to our day-to-day life. If man was left
without a stable government, he would still be in a state of
nature. It is to this effect that Aristotle sought for the best form
of government in his era. In our present day, most people are
advocating for democracy because they think it is the best
system of government. But in the time of Aristotle, he agitated
for Aristocracy. He also recommended a mixture or a
combination of Aristocracy and democracy for a balanced
government.
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Aristotle’s political thought on government is very much relevant
to the present day political situation. In considering his thought
on what constitutes a government, one sees that everybody
wants the type of government that would respect the people’s
view. It is the government that unifies the people and makes
them know their limitations in life and how to exercise their
freedom. This research therefore is aimed at looking critically on
the concept of good government as propounded by Aristotle and
also to point out what is generally meant by the term
‘government’ from its etymological point of description. It is also
an attempt to discover whether Nigeria has had a good
government.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The government with all its complexity is a mirror reflecting
human nature with its multiple needs. Human nature is the
foundation of government or the act of government. Aristotle
sees government through the same nominal sense and agitates
for the very best. He distinguishes a bad government from a good
one. The bad government according to him is that which does
not serve its aim of meeting the demands of the people and their
common good while a good government he says is that which
serves the common good of the people or the society. This
compliments the Augustinian dictum that he who fights for the
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common good, fight for his own good’2 . Following this line of
arguments, Echekwube maintained that the urge for power and
quick money has plunged Nigeria as a Country into untold
hardship. Arguing further, he remarked in strong terms that
since independence in 1960, Nigerians have had civilian
governments, which were toppled by the military who believed
they had the magic wand to solve all our problems. Despite their
seemingly good intentions, the Army is composed of true
Nigerians who have connections with their immediate families,
tribes and friends. While they have opportunity to stay in office,
they are advised to accumulate as much wealth as possible for
they may never pass through that way again. This attitude leads
to corruption at the expense of the governed3’.
The State, as seen by J. Maritain, is a moral entity with rights as
well as obligations to the citizens. He conceives the state as
having flesh and blood, instincts, he regards the state as an
extension of the human family good – the common good it is a
work of reason, born out of the obscure efforts of reason
disengaged from instinct and implying essentially a rational
order4. In this regards, irresponsible demagogues ought not to be
entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring the survival of the
state. In order that morality and good governance be entrenched
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in the nation’s body polity, a conscious coordination of activities
of all concerned becomes a necessity; stealing, corrupt acts and
betrayal of each other will mar it.
Man is the best of all the animals when he is ruled or guided by
laws. In the same way, man could be the worst of all animals,
when there is anarchy. It is precisely this complex and organic
nature of the society that influenced Aristotle’s decision to opt
for a government that would be beneficial to the people. This
poses a problem for Aristotle as regards the type of government
to be implemented. Among monarchy, Aristocracy and
Democracy Systems of government, his preference is for
Aristocracy. Aristotle favoured Aristocracy, because he want the
few responsible people to govern and rule the society to enthrone
justice and equity for all. Now, the question that needs to be
asked is that, why are there still injustice in Aristocracy?
Aristotle answer; it is because man is naturally selfish, he always
seek his own interest first. Therefore we should not allow a man
who is ruled by passion to govern. Whoever governs is to be
guided by rational principles.
Aristotle when confronted with the problem of who should rule?
He uncompromisingly state that the rulers should come from the
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middle class. But will the upper class not influence them? Will
the lower class not initiate revolutionary campaign against
them? These are problems that Aristotle did not tackle within his
politics which this research intends to look into.
1.3 PURPOSE OF STUDY
As a result of the problem raised, this research is to examine the
nature of government. It is an attempt to explain what a good
government is according to Aristotle and also analyze them in
the light of Nigeria situation. Furthermore, this work will help to
a great extent in establishing the responsibilities of a government
in any political society.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
This work is a critical look into the essence, relevance and
nature of government in the philosophy of Aristotle. It is going to
expose us to the concept of good government in other
philosophers too. This research will be significant because it is
going to expose us to the relevance and application of good
government in Aristotle. The significance of an essay of this
nature in this crucial time of Nigeria’s political history cannot be
over-emphasized. It will serve as the basis of ideas and reference
point for aspirants to political offices in Nigeria. This research is
significant because it is going to show us the risk and dangers in
Aristotle’s concept of good government. It is hoped that this
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essay would promote a better understanding of the foundations
of social order and stimulate debate on the nature and purpose
of government.
1.5 SCOPE OF STUDY
The researcher’s scope is going to be Aristotle’s view of good
government. The researcher however will limit himself to whether
Nigeria has had a good government with special attention to the
military regime to the second and fourth republic. In addition,
the first and the botched third republics would also be given a
cursory look and they will serve as reference points. In doing
this, a historical background of Nigeria political system will help
a great deal in the analysis of the basic issues that this study is
principally out to address: good government in Aristotle.
1.6 METHODOLOGY
The methodology will be largely analytic and evaluative. In the
light of this, the methodology will rely extensively on books,
newspaper, Articles and unpublished materials, the primary
materials that would be used for this essay are some of the
works of Aristotle, also to be consulted are books on political
sciences, philosophical books, paper presented at various
political conferences and lecture notes. Thus this essay shall be
divided into five chapters.
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Chapter one is mainly on the General introduction to the essay.
In this, I shall give the background of study, statement of the
problem, purpose of study, significance of study, scope of study,
methodology and a short biography of Aristotle. Chapter two will
be the literature review where books on this thesis will be review.
Chapter three focuses on the nature of government from the
etymological point of view. Here the nature of government would
be discussed in general with particular reference to the three
arms of government. The essence of governance, the origin of
government, essence and purpose of government will also be
discussed.
Chapter four deals with the most important aspect of this thesis,
what Aristotle regards as a good government. This is not to say
that only the thoughts of Aristotle would be discussed here but
also other topics in relation to what constitute a good
government would be discussed too. Kinds of government, the
composition of government shall be discussed here. Chapter five
which consists of the evaluation and conclusion shall critically
X-ray governance; the Nigerian Experience tip toeing into the
forms of government in Nigerian political history with particular
attention to the civilian, military and interim governments. Also,
the critique of Aristotle’s concept of good government will also be
looked into and finally the conclusion of the work.
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1.7 LIFE AND WORKS OF ARISTOTLE
Aristotle was born in 384B.C. at Stageira, a Greek colony in the
Macedonian Coast. His father Nicomachus was a physician to
the King of Macedon. His father died when he was young. In
367B.C., at the age of seventeen, Aristotle went to Athens to
study in Plato’s academy and he stayed there for twenty years
until the death of Plato, after the death of Plato, he left Athens
and was engage in marine biological research at various places
on the coast and island of Asia minor for few years. In 343BC, he
became a tutor to the son of the King of Macedon (Alexander)
who was thirteen years old. He taught his student ethics, politics
and some ideas of geography of Asia. This young man he taught
later became Alexander the Great. He also wrote for him a
treatise on the art of ruling.
The most prominent thing is that when Aristotle was fifty years
old, he went back to Athens and established his own school at
Lyceum. He died in 322B.C. at the age of sixty-two. He was a
philosopher, a scientific observer of men and was well known in
the Mediterranean world. Aristotle wrote so many books while he
was alive, and there are some of his works which are still useful
till date. The politics, the ethics, the Nicomachean ethics,
poetics, metaphysics, logic, physics, Biology and psychology. It is
worthwhile to note that he had keen interest in the area of
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politics because he wanted a good and just government to exist
in his lifetime.
WORKS OF ARISTOTLE
Aristotle’s own writing falls under two groups, the treatise and
the literary. The treatise probably refers to the corpus of closely
two doctrine of Aristotle. The literary according to Lloyd contains
falsehood for general consumption5. These are consistency with
Aristotle’s own usage of the world “exotic”. He further stated
that:
In the most exoteric work after the treatise chiefly in
being non technical composition written for wide
technical composition written for wide
documentation, the force of the world exoteric itself
maybe that they were more readily available to the
general public outside the immediate write of
Aristotle pupil.6
The treatise are comprised of the following:
(1) “The Organ on (2) Treatise on the Philosophy of nature (3)
Treatise on Psychology (4) The Biological works (5) First
Philosophy (6) The ethical treatise (7) The treatise on the act of
speaking and writing”.7 Apart from the written works, which he
authored, he also found a school called Lyceum after he left
Plato’s academy.
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1.8 INFLUENCE ON ARISTOTLE
Aristotle at the age of 17 became a student of Plato at the
academy where he was admitted to study. As a student, he
performed excellently well. He distinguished himself as a great
intellectual and enwisdomized intellectual, reputed as being “the
‘reader’ and ‘mind’ of the school”.8 Plato once spoke of him as the
Nous of the academy as if to say intelligence personified9.
Aristotle was colossally influenced by Plato; even though he
eventually broke away from Plato’s philosophical problems.
While at his academy he wrote many dialogue in platonic styles
which his contemporary praised for ‘gold stream’ of the
eloquence and he eventually reaffirmed in his ‘Eudemus’, the
very doctrine of the forms or ideas which he later criticized so
severely. 10
We may draw inference also from the fact that since philosophy
and science existed before Aristotle he may as well have been
influenced by such pre-Aristotelian ideas. According to Renan,
“Socrates gave philosophy to mankind and Aristotle gave it to
science”. Aristotle was the first to make the attempt at providing
natural explanation of the cosmic complexities and mysterious
events. However, it would also be interesting to note that very
prominent and erudite scholars like Anaximanes, Socrates etc.
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made up boundless list that influence Aristotle and his works,
but did Aristotle swallow all their thought whole and entire? No,
rather, he reflected on them and made them as if they were a
springboard for his career in philosophy.