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A Study of Aristotle's concept of "zoon politikon(political animal)

Research Project

Project/Area Number 17520026
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Philosophy/Ethics
Research InstitutionChuo University

Principal Investigator

HAMAOKA Takeshi  Chuo University, Faculty of Economics, Professor (80349216)

Project Period (FY) 2005 – 2007
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2007)
Budget Amount *help
¥1,750,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000)
Fiscal Year 2007: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000)
Fiscal Year 2006: ¥500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000)
Fiscal Year 2005: ¥600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000)
KeywordsAristotle / political(social) Animal / Politics / History of Animals / ethics / ポリス的動物 / ポリス / 群棲 / 政治学 / 家 / 自然 / 応報
Research Abstract

I attempted to analyze the structure of the argument in Aristotle's Politics, I.2, where he introduce an idea of a human being as " zoon politikon (political animal)" to show that a polls (city-state) exist by nature.
He describe how a polis comes to existence for the sake of good life through villages from households. He says that households are natural, but the statements must not be understood to show that human beings have an instinct to be able to form them, though human male and female are said to unite for breeding "not form choice" as well as other animals. The phrase "by nature", which appears very frequently in Politics I.2, is consistently used in teleological sense, and does not mean that human beings have an instinct to be fit for a polis.
The idea of a human being as "zoon politikon" may be considered to imply totalistic idea of relationship between a polls and citizens. It is true that Aristotle explains the relationship by example of the relationship between a whole body … More and its parts, which seems to suggest that citizens are regarded as completely subject to their polls. However, citizens do not live for the sake of a polis, but a polis exist for the sake of well-being of its citizens as a place where they can be self-sufficient and realize their human nature by participating in political decisions.
I attempted to clarify Aristotle's incomprehensible explanation of "zoon politikon" in his History of Animals, I. 1, where he says that of gregarious animals, as well as of solitary animals, some are politikon (social) and some live scattered and that human beings-which are thought of as being a social animal to a fuller extent in Polilitcs, I. as tending toward being both gregarious and solitary animals. The deliberative ability of humans, which is acquired through acquirement of language, enables a human being to have such various modes of life and even to lead a solitary life. The gift of speech make it possible for humans to have common idea of what is good or evil and just or unjust, and to maintain a reciprocal relationship between citizens, which make a city. Less

Report

(4 results)
  • 2007 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 2006 Annual Research Report
  • 2005 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (13 results)

All 2008 2007

All Journal Article (9 results) (of which Peer Reviewed: 1 results) Presentation (3 results) Book (1 results)

  • [Journal Article] ポリス的動物2008

    • Author(s)
      濱岡 剛
    • Journal Title

      古代哲学研究 40

    • NAID

      40016105163

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] Social Animals2008

    • Author(s)
      Hamaoka, Takeshi
    • Journal Title

      Methodos(A Journal for Ancient Philosophy) 40

    • NAID

      40016105163

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] ポリス的動物2008

    • Author(s)
      浜岡 剛
    • Journal Title

      古代哲学研究 40(印刷中)

    • NAID

      40016105163

    • Related Report
      2007 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Journal Article] ポリスとポリス的動物の自然性2007

    • Author(s)
      濱岡 剛
    • Journal Title

      中央大学論集 28

      Pages: 1-28

    • NAID

      110006393811

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary 2006 Annual Research Report
  • [Journal Article] アリストテレス『政治学』における個人とポリス2007

    • Author(s)
      濱岡 剛
    • Journal Title

      中央大学経済研究所年報 38

      Pages: 33-57

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] The Naturalness of Polis and Political Animals2007

    • Author(s)
      Hamaoka, Takeshi
    • Journal Title

      Chuo Daigaku Ronshu(Journal of Liberal Arts) 28

      Pages: 1-28

    • NAID

      110006393811

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] Utjlitarianism and Thoughts of Social Reform2007

    • Author(s)
      Otonashi, Michihiro
    • Journal Title

      Chuo University Press

      Pages: 315-350

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] Individuals and Polis in Aristotle's Politics2007

    • Author(s)
      Hamaoka, Takeshi
    • Journal Title

      The Annual of the Institute of Economic Research Chao University 38

      Pages: 33-57

    • NAID

      40015689486

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] アリストテレス『政治学』における個人とポリス2007

    • Author(s)
      浜岡 剛
    • Journal Title

      中央大学経済研究所年報 38

      Pages: 33-57

    • Related Report
      2007 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] ポリス的な正しさ2007

    • Author(s)
      濱岡 剛
    • Organizer
      古代哲学フォーラム
    • Place of Presentation
      京大会館(京都)
    • Year and Date
      2007-09-22
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Presentation] Political Justice2007

    • Author(s)
      Hamaoka, Takeshi
    • Organizer
      Kodaitetugaku-forum
    • Place of Presentation
      Kyoto
    • Year and Date
      2007-09-22
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Presentation] ポリス的な正しさ2007

    • Author(s)
      浜岡 剛
    • Organizer
      古代哲学フォーラム
    • Place of Presentation
      京大会館
    • Year and Date
      2007-09-22
    • Related Report
      2007 Annual Research Report
  • [Book] 功利主義と社会改革の諸思想2007

    • Author(s)
      音無 通宏(編著)
    • Publisher
      中央大学出版部
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Annual Research Report 2007 Final Research Report Summary

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Published: 2005-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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