if their property were not so great” (69). Aristotle further reasons on the property of the citizens, coming to the conclusion that while there is indeed an advantage to property being equal, it is a small one, and will not remedy all factional conflict. He continues with his criticism of the regime of Phaleas in addressing the fact that with the property of the citizens equal, other problems leading to factional conflict will arise. Among these are the issue that there will be those who feel that they do not merit equality, as well as the reality of the sometimes evil nature of human beings, both of which have been known to cause factional conflict. Aristotle gives the reader another piece of his own political theory in suggesting how to rule such persons. He contends that such rule “requires not so much leveling property as providing that those who are respectable by nature will be the sort who have no wish to aggrandize themselves, while the mean will not be able to, which will be the case if they are kept inferior but are done no injustice” (69). Aristotle, in concluding his discourse on Phaleas, discredits the entire philosophy of Phaleas’ regime in making the allegation that not even his view concerning what constitutes equality of property is correct. While Phaleas equalizes only land possession, Aristotle shows that if land is equalized, so too do all other possessions in order the create the best possible regime in this situation. In providing more of his own theory, he reasons that “equality is to be sought in all these things, or some moderate arrangement, or all are to be left alone” (70). Aristotle next discusses the merits of the regime of Hippodamus in his accounts of political life.In looking at the regime of Hippodamus, Aristotle first outlines the principles of the regime and then moves on to the problems that he finds with many of these principles. The ideal regime of Hipp...
