The ‘Ethics’ of Aristotle end with the words, “Let us then commence our ‘Politics.’” He had described virtue and happiness, but neither of these, he says,^[1] is attainable by any human being apart from society. Moral development and the full enjoyment of the exercise of our powers equally demand certain external conditions; they cannot exist save by the aid of a settled community, social habits, the restraint and protection of laws, and even a wisely regulated system of public education. Man is by nature a social creature; he cannot isolate himself without becoming either more or less than man—“either a god or a beast.” The state is, therefore, a prime necessity for the “well-doing and well-being” of the individual. In fact, says Aristotle,^[2] you cannot form any conception of man in his normal condition—that is to say, in a civilised condition—except as a member of a state. On these grounds Aristotle proposed to go on to the writing of his ‘Politics’ as the complement and conclusion of his ethical treatise. But some time probably elapsed before the design was ​Page:Aristotle (Grant).djvu/128 ​Page:Aristotle (Grant).djvu/129 ​Page:Aristotle (Grant).djvu/130 ​Page:Aristotle (Grant).djvu/131 ​Page:Aristotle (Grant).djvu/132 ​Page:Aristotle (Grant).djvu/133 ​Page:Aristotle (Grant).djvu/134 ​Page:Aristotle (Grant).djvu/135 ​Page:Aristotle (Grant).djvu/136 ​Page:Aristotle (Grant).djvu/137 ​Page:Aristotle (Grant).djvu/138 ​tion, and all for the want of "solidarity," all from these jealousies which kept each Greek city apart from the rest. Aristotle's peculiar relations to the court of Macedon may have hindered him from freely entering upon this subject, or may have biassed his views; but the real fact seems rather to have been that, while he was a great philosopher, he was no statesman, and that, absorbed in the researches of science and in the dreams of an ideal state, he did not see the actual dangers of his country so clearly as his patriotic contemporary Demosthenes saw them. His contribution to politics was abstract and scientific, and as such remains valid for all time; his analysis of the pathology (so to speak) of oligarchies and democracies was found to be often strikingly verified in the history of the Italian republics. And however much the views of Aristotle fall short of the requirements of modern times, the 'Politics' will always form a valuable study for one who is likely to take part in the public affairs of his country.