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pompeii -> RE: Proverbs? (8/18/2009 10:00:13 PM)
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‘That person is by nature a slave who can belong to another person and who only takes part in thinking by recognising it, but not by possessing it. Other living beings (animals) cannot recognise thinking; they just obey feelings. However, there is little difference between using slaves and using tame animals: both provide bodily help to do necessary things.’ Aristotle, Politica, ed. Loeb Classical Library, 1254 b 10-12.
“It is correct that Greeks rule Barbarians”; for by nature what is barbarian and what is slave are the same.’ Aristotle, Physica, vol. 1; Loeb Classical Library, 1252 b 8. See A.TH. van Leeuwen, The Nacht van het Kapitaal, Nijmegen 1984, pp. 182 - 205.
‘It is the best for all tame animals to be ruled by human beings. For this is how they are kept alive. In the same way, the relationship between the male and the female is by nature such that the male is higher, the female lower, that the male rules and the female is ruled.’ Aristotle, Politica, ed. Loeb Classical Library, 1254 b 10-14.
In summary ... (according to Aristotle) ...
- Women were inferior to men by nature.
- Barbarians were inferior to the civilised races by nature.
- Slaves were slaves because they were inferior by nature.
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