ntative government, he believed in a direct government ruled by qualified and educated citizens whose goal was the wellness of the state and not their own political gain.By modern definition, Aristotle would surely be considered racist, classist and sexist all at the same time and this is true. Aristotle is known to have criticized Sparta for the freedom given to women there, but at the same time he condemns Spartas oppressive serfdom. Aristotle is a scientist, and as such, he observes and interprets what he sees. Slavery was a universally accepted thing, yet Aristotle grants the slave the faculty of reason, the capacity of freedom, and the right to look forward to freedom. But Aristotle still held the view of his time that the slave was subhuman, and therefore was able to be ruled over. This was inherent in nature, so he did not challenge the institution of slavery. Euripides and Alcidamas did in their thinking.Aristotle believed heavily in a graduated class system that would include such classes as agricultural workers, craftsmen, and paid laborers. The agricultural workers, Aristotle concludes, will be slaves, or non-Greeks, dwelling in the area surrounding the city. But the class most important to maintain the state, Aristotle refers to as the ruling class. This class will take care of the military and deliberative elements of the state. This is the ruling class that was previously discussed as the citizens of Aristotles Ideal State. They would live neither a commercial life nor an agricultural life, for Aristotle feels that the ruling class must have leisure to cultivate their virtue and talents, time for activities of a citizen. The citizens would earn their livings by being purveyors of the land that the lower classes would workThe duties of the ruling class would be to handle the state in both its military and civil functions. But each member of the ruling class can not handle both of these functions simultaneously, ...
