The conventions at the time dictated the position of women to be subjugated. Women were allowed no legal or democratic participation, were subject to the men of their family, and were essentially minors. Hence the position of Aristotle reflects the social convention at the time.
Aristotle makes the argument of men ruling over women, as according to him, men are naturally superior to women. According to him, “the relation of male to female is by nature a relation of superior to inferior and ruler to ruled.” (Aristotle 1998, p. 8, 1254b10) As per his assessment, women are imperfect or deformed males, there also exists a deliberative faculty i.e. the power to make judgements and moral decisions, however, she lacks authority and is weak, and is not capable to be a ruler due to her nature. (Mawhinney, 2021) Women are also only suitable to be subject to men since they are composed of a submissive personality. He also believes that women, through their natural gifts, are only capable to be caregivers and mothers. (Mawhinney, 2021)
The development of virtue is an integral part of Aristotle’s philosophy. His idea of virtue is to do with having a purpose and excellence which would positively impact the city. (Mawhinney, 2021) Since the polis is the highest form of association, the development of political virtue, which would include having a higher purpose and doing good for the city is the most important to his philosophy. For Aristotle, in order for the citizens to pursue public life, they must have a private life as well. It is central to Aristotle’s philosophy on his city that it consists of thriving households. Households prepare individuals for their political virtue. Aristotle argues that the household, as well as the polis, are both schools of virtue, and they are schools of virtue for men as well as women. He argued for the education of both men and women in the city, and that girls should not be married off at a young age and they should not have children before the age of 18. (Mawhinney, 2021) Hence, he believes that women play an important role in the ethical life of the city as they are the primary caregivers and central to the household, and thus responsible for the upbringing of future adult citizens of the polis. Aristotle agrees that women and so-called natural slaves have virtues that are qualitatively different than those of free male citizens but he still unique in that he is emphasizing those virtues unite rather than separate. (Mawhinney, 2021) Aristotle makes the argument that for a city-state to excel in its virtue, it is necessary that the entire free population study the constitution. Since the free society extends to the children and the women, it would mean for the women to have active participation in the development of their personal and societal virtue.
References
Aristotle, ., & Reeve, C. D. C. (1998). Politics. Indianapolis, Ind: Hackett Pub.
Mawhinney, Michelle M. (2021). Aristotle: Ethics, Nature, and Politics. York University, Toronto, Ontario.
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