Aristotle on the Elementary Virtues for the Consolidation of Political Communities: Justice and Friendship
Author: Will K. M. Chuang
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-Aristotle on the Elementary Virtues for theConsolidation of Political Communities:Justice and FriendshipWill K. M. Chuang*AbstractAristotle takes justice and friendship as the elementary virtues for theconsolidation of political communities. This paper aims at examining an intriguingissue which has troubled scholars for a long time: how these two virtues canconsolidate the polis?Aristotle divides justice into a broad sense (a complete virtue) and a narrowsense (fairness). I argue that justice, in its broad sense, is the prime virtue to concretethe koinonia politikon. Aristotle also divides friendship into three senses, and I shalltry to demonstrate that friendship for each other’s good is exactly the virtue toimprove the good of polis as well as eudaimonia— to achieve the ultimate end ofethics and political science.Aristotle’s project for virtuous community could be outlined much more clearlyby studying justice and friendship as the two elementary virtues. It is rather obviousthat his expectation of genuine political life differs significantly from thecontemporary rival theories. Nevertheless, I believe that the project outlined byAristotle offers fruitful implications and valuable resources for us to reconsider ourpolitical life today.