What does Aristotle think is the driving force of the origin of a country?

Aristotle's theory on the origin of a country.

Countries did not exist from the beginning, nor did they naturally form. It is the product of the development of human society to a certain stage and the result of the internal development of human beings. Aristotle's exposition on the origin of a country is mainly based on the theory of natural origin and the theory of human nature.

1. natural origin theory

Aristotle once said, "If you want the truth of everything, you can start with its smallest unit." The same is true of his research on the origin of polis. He believes that in human society, there must be such a combination, and once separated from each other, it cannot exist. For example, men and women have established a certain combination for the continuation of the race, with the aim of leaving descendants like themselves. Those born rulers and ruled have set up consortia in order to be preserved, those who can strategize are born rulers and masters, and those who can work with their bodies become ruled or slaves. On the basis of these two * * * identical bodies, the simplest elements that constitute the city-state family are formed. Family is the natural unity to meet people's daily needs. When many families unite for things other than the necessities of life, village communities come into being. When several village communities are combined into a complete isomorphic body in order to meet the needs of life and live a better life, the polis comes into being.

In a word, Aristotle believes that the city-state which is isomorphic to society is gradually developed from the family and village community, which is a natural development process. The emergence of polis is the result of natural origin.

2. Theory of human nature

Another theoretical pillar of Aristotle's theory on the origin of a country is his theory of human nature. Aristotle said: "polis is the product of natural evolution, and human beings are animals that naturally tend to the political life of polis." In his view, the intrinsic motivation of the natural development of polis lies in the gregarious nature of human beings, and it is our human nature to live a polis life. The polis is higher than the individual, and the individual depends on the polis. In order to safeguard their own interests and security, people consciously develop and form polis.