POLS3321_600 Echavarria WA10
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Political Science
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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docx
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Uploaded by jmecha0726
Jonah Echavarria
November 12, 2023
POLS3321_600
Dr. Beaumont
Writing Assignment 10
1) What is Aristotle’s definition of citizenship? How does he define a polity?
Citizenship in a state is moral training in the eyes of Aristotle. Reasons why Aristotle
might think like this is because he believes it is not private rights that define a citizen, but the
political power one holds in their government.
As stated in Book V chapter eight through nine “Polity is the compromise between
Democracy and Oligarchy, but inclines to the democratic side.”. In a Democracy the many rule
(poor) and in an Oligarchy the few rule (rich), so polity is basically the coming together of these
two groups to form a middle class. The best constitution would be a mean between the rule of the
rich and poor, the middle class should be the supreme socio-economic class, and the middle-class
must hold sway for a state to be well administered. No constitution can dispense with the support
of the strongest class in the state. However, there are ways to manipulate and effect polity, the
example Aristotle gave was The Laconian Constitution
2) Why is the qualifications for / definition of a citizen important when trying to define what a
government looks like?
State is defined by reference to the distribution of political power. Two aims of the state
are to satisfy man’s social instinct and fit him for a good life. Common welfare in a constitution
determines whether it is good or bad. The reason why it is so important is because that will
determine what type of government it is. If only a few have citizenship then the governing power
would be an Oligarchy, if the many have power the governing power would be a Democracy.
Qualification of a citizen are important because it is the foundation of what the governing power
will look like.
3) Contrast Aristotle’s criterion for good citizenship with what is considered good citizenship in
the U.S. — What are the differences and are there any similarities? What practical differences do
these distinctions make in the way we govern ourselves?
Aristotle’s criterion for being a good citizenship includes the following; one who does
good services to his state, knows both how to rule and how to obey.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration services criterion for a responsible citizen
includes the following; support and defend the Constitution, stay informed of the issues affecting
your community, participate in the democratic process, respect and obey federal, state, and local
laws, respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others, participate in your local community, pay
income and other taxes honestly, and on time, to federal, state, and local authorities, serve on a
jury when called upon, and defend the country if the need should arise.
When reading what the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration services I found a lot more
similarities than differences. I am sure good services to the state in Aristotles eyes include; pay
income and other taxes honestly, and on time, to federal, state, and local authorities, serve on a
jury when called upon, defend the country if the need should arise all fall into the same thing.
When Aristotle said a good citizen must know how to obey it ties into respect and obey federal,
state, and local laws. Another similarity when Aristotle said that a good citizen should know how
to rule it ties into participating in the democratic process. I do not see any difference in the way
we govern ourselves unless voter participation and community participation are at lows, which I
feels varies department from department.
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References
Bard collegeA. (n.d.). https://www.bard.edu/library/arendt/pdfs/Aristotle-Politics.pdf
Should I consider U.S. citizenship?
. USCIS. (2020, July 5).
https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learn-about-citizenship/should-i-consider-us-citizenship