to live in a Polis or city, not isolated or in small groups. Civilization is the natural state for the human animal. It is the natural state not in the sense that it is the original state, but in the sense that the natural goal of human development is life in cities.Aristotle recognizes that "There is a natural distinction, [] between what is female and what is servile" (I, 1252 b1-2). However, they are normally subordinate to men: "the relation of male to female is that of natural superior to natural inferior, and that of ruler to ruled" (I, 1254 b13-15). Women and children are ruled, not as slaves for the master's benefit, but for their own good, just as the rulers of a city must seek the good of the citizens, not the good of the rulers. The rule of husband over wife is a "constitutional" government. The rule of father over children is "royal" government."For a man rules his wife and children both as free people, but not in the same way: instead, he rules his wife the way a state man does, and his children the way a king does. For a male, unless he is somehow constituted contrary to nature, is naturally more fitted to rule then a female and someone older and completely developed is naturally more fitted to lead then some one younger and incompletely developed" (I, 1259a 39-1259b 4). The relation of husband to wife is like the relationship of ruler to ruled in a constitutional government. In which citizens take turns to rule because the natures of the citizens are equal and do not differ at all, though it is customary to pay the rulers special respect; but in marriage, there is a permanent inequality. "In most cases of rule the statesmen, it is true, people take turns at ruling and being ruled, because they tend by nature to be on an equal footing and to differ in nothing. Nevertheless, whenever one person is ruling and another being ruled, the one ruling tries to distinguish him-self in demeanor, title, or rank from the ruled; [] Mal...
