ince man is not self-sufficient.All partnerships aim at some good. The polis, being a multitude of partnerships, also aims at good. Good, the activity of the soul in conformity with virtue is possible because of the partnerships existing between the citizens of the city. This idea can be a dilemma for any regime, even our own. The key is for two things to occur: 1) the soul must rule the body. 2) Reason must rule over a well-ordered soul. A soul, Aristotle believes is made up of three parts: logos, thymos, and eros. Each part possesses a virtue necessary for justice to rule the soul. This will occur if each virtue minds its own business.Logos is the element of the soul that separates us from the animals. It controls rationality, speech, and reason. An animal can be taught to do many tricks, but an animal cannot be taught to contemplate complex philosophical ideas or quantitative physics equations. Logos must allow wisdom to govern.Thymos is the part of the soul that gives man his will to do the right thing and stand up for what is right. It must be governed by courage. Thymos, in its correct sense is facing danger the way it should be faced. It is brave and virtuous to lead an army onto the battlefield for a noble cause even though the odds may not necessarily be in your favor. It is wrong and stupid to try and take on a whole army by yourself. Thymos allows for you to make correct distinctions between these two things.Eros is the part of the soul that controls natural appetites. These appetites include eating, drinking, and sex. Eros must be governed by moderation. If eros addresses the natural passions and appetites of man in the right way, this will help man achieve happiness. The Rule of the Golden Mean, everything in moderation, is difficult for many people to practice, but is necessary. It is unnatural and wrong for many to live life drunk, just like it is equally unnatural for man to not drink at all. There i...
