The Politics of Aristotle

Who is Cleisthenes from The Politics of Aristotle and what is their importance?

Asked by
Last updated by Cat
1 Answers
Log in to answer

This man is also mentioned in connection with cultivating democracy. It is important to increase the segment of the population who are capable of obtaining citizenship rights within a democracy but there must be a limit or it will become intolerable to the higher economic classes of people. The level of population relative to what the state can provide for economically is also highly relevant in this regard. Cleisthenes was one of those policy makers who predated Aristotle, but who shared with Aristotle the knowledge that such a policy was intended to bring a democracy into a healthy balance. Such a public policy can fluctuate depending upon the needs of the people. This man is referred to in Book 6, during Aristotle's discussion of how to maintain certain forms of government, namely democracies and oligarchies.