INDIVIDUAL AND STATE IN ARISTOTLE IN RELATION TO
PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN NIGERIA
CHAPTER ONE:
INTRODUCTION
1.1
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
Man establishes the state
in order to meet his needs. In other words, the individuals are prior to the
state, and the state cannot exit outside the individuals. Hence, the
individuals and the state are dialectically related. Again Nigeria as a state
has a dialectical relationship with the citizens. To this end, any policy in
Nigeria, for instance be it economics, social or political policies made by
those who pilot the affairs of the state ought to be directed towards insuring
the satisfaction of the needs of the individuals or the citizens. The constant
tension between the sate in Nigeria and her citizens is often brought about by
inability of the state to live up to such essential responsibilities towards the
individuals. The consequence of such neglect in Nigeria is better experienced
than described.
As to avoid such
unfortunate clashes, this study aims at examining the place which Aristotle
gives to the individuals in the state as a means of surveying Nigeria
situation. Furthermore, it aims at bringing to lime light the dividends of
Aristotle’s citizenship in his political philosophy. For the subsequent
application to Nigerian social, political and economic situations.
And by implication the
study aims at finding a lasting solution to the age-long and staggering
Nigerian problem being manifested in unemployment, bribery and corruption
economic crisis injustice, violation of human rights among others
1.2
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The inability of man to
satisfy his countless needs compels him to seek the services of other
individuals, hence the origin of the state. Here a state as we have pointed out
earlier, exist for the preservation, protection and satisfaction of
individual’s needs and for his assimilation.
Unfortunately, in Nigeria
today just in Athens at the time of Aristotle, the individuals at the corridors
of power have lost sight of the aim for which the state is established. The
crux of the matter is that the state seems pitched against the individuals in
Nigeria. Sadly enough, this negligence has given rise to a lot of problems.
These problems include: injustice, marginalization, economic crises, inadequate
social infrastructures, exploitation, bribery and corruption, incessant
violation of human rights, selfish leadership, election malpractice,
gansterism, sqandermania mentality, labour strikes, to mention but a few.
Furthermore, workers are not paid their salaries as and when due. There are
inaccessible roads all over the nation. This has resulted in the loss of many
lives of the individuals through road accidents. The education system is
grossly in a dilapidated state. The university lecturers, primary and
post-primary school teachers often embark on strikes due to poor condition of
workers and poor enumeration. Nigerians suffer economic hardship resulting from
the constant increase in the pump prince of petroleum products. Some political
leaders do not have proper sense of patriotism. They often make policies that
favour egoistic interest at the detriment of the poor and the powerless. This
situation calls for an urgent attention, as well for enduring solutions that
would salvage Nigerian form the above socio-political predicaments.
It is against this backdrop
that we delve exposing first of all the Aristotle’s notion of “individual” and
“state”. Our intention is to present Aristotle’s views as a paradigm to the
problem of Nigeria.
1.3
THE SCOPE OF THE STUDY
Our concentration in this
work dwells specifically on Aristotle’s notion of the individual and the state,
and the relation the individual has with the state.
With genuine humanity, we
do not intend to present an exhaustive work or study on the socio-political
concepts. This study is specifically limited to the Aristotle’s teachings or
views of these concepts as they appear r contained in this politic.
The above being the case,
this study is but a stepping-stone towards more wholistic uncovering of the
greatness that lies hidden in Aristotle’s socio-political philosophy. In this
regard, effort will be made in this work to abstract some relevant truths from
Aristotle’s political teachings and apply them as possible solutions to the
heart-rending, protracted and precarious Nigerian socio-political and economic
predicaments.
1.4
METHODOLOGY
The methods to be used are
both expository and evaluative. The study will first explore the background and
the environment that helped Aristotle to nurture his socio-political
philosophy. Then we shall give a thorough expository explanation of the
concepts of the individual and the state as articulated by Aristotle in his
political philosophy. Finally, the study will be critical evaluation bring to
limelight both the positive and practicable dividends accruing from Aristotle’s
notion of the individual and the state.
In general, the work is
divided into five chapters. Chapter one offers a synoptic view of the entire
work. And the political environment, that is the background of Aristotle’s
social-political philosophy. The chapter two is the literature review. In
chapter three, we shall dwell on Aristotle’s notion of the individual and the
state, including the relationship existing between the individual and state.
The fourth chapter is meant to expose the extent of promotion it of human
Rights in Nigeria, in the light of Aristotle’s notion of the individual and the
state. Here the fundamental human rights will be discussed under economic
right, political rights and social rights. And we shall also point out where
the human rights are violated. Finally, the chapter five serves as the critical
evaluation and conclusion of the work.
1.5
ARISTOTLE’S BACKGROUND
It was K.C. Anyanwu who
states that “the understanding of the mindset of people leads to the
understanding of their behaviour”1. Therefore, for us to understand
Aristotle’s political philosophy in general and his notion individual and state
in particular, an exposition of the environment in which he lived and had his
experiences becomes imperative. This is because “facts have no meaning except
within a system of reference”2. Consequently, as depicted in the
dialectics of background and foreground by Gadamer: There is no open discourse
without hidden presupposition. No explicit statement without an implicit. There
is no reflection except against a background of the unreflected3. In
the light of the above, we shall discuss in this the nature, life work and
characteristics of Aristotle’s environment.
It was this that let to the
postulation of his political philosophy, which anchors on his notion of the
individual and the state. K.C. Anyanwu gives credence to this fact when he
sates: “Human beings are the products of culture, that is to say that culture
has made people what they are or almost what they are. Culture cannot be
separated from human experience”4
Aristotle was born in 384
BC at Stageria in Thrace, and was the son of the Nicomachus, a physician of the
Macedonian king, Amyntak II when he was about seventeen years old; Aristotle
went to Athens for purpose of study and became a member of the Academy in
368BC. Where for over twenty years, he was in constant intercourse with Plato
until latter’s death in 348BC.
It will be very pertinent
to note here that Aristotle’s master (Plato) influenced his life. As we know
that his father was a physician but he developed interest also in politics because
of his studies at Athens, following the experiences of his master in Athens
within his life span. These could be categorized into two aspects, namely: the
Athenian socio-political crisis and its most outstanding resultant effect, the
oppression of the individual.
1.5.1
THE ATHENIAN
SOCIO-POLITICAL CRISIS
The Athenian city-state
like every other nation of the world, suffered lots of political crisis in her
historical and political development. There was indeed a pronounced political
instability then in Athens. Within the thirty years of Periclean democracy,
Athens was booming in all aspects of its life, especially in commerce and (or
economic) and social life. Unfortunately the political peace, social and
economic advancement associated with the Periclaen democracy did not last. The
glory was in fact, short-lived. The glory was short-lived. The city-state of
Sparta, a neighbouring Greek state, out of sheer jealousy and covetousness for
Athenian wealth, state and power, declared war (a war that lasted twenty-seven
years) against Athens…5 When the war ended in 404 BC, Athens was
subsequently defeated. This defeat was not only a disaster but also a turning
point for the Athenian social, political and economic peace. Historically, this
defeat of Athens marked the end of the only democracy existing in the ancient
world.
At the end of the war, a
thirty-man commission was set up to draft new constitution for Athens. The
members of the commission were also given the mandate to govern Athens until
the completion of their assignment. In practice, the reign of the thirty men
was harsh on the people of Athens. They were ready to act on the belief that it
is natural and sensible to exploit the weak. These thirty men seized the
opportunity to settle old political scores, to oppress and suppress the
individual citizens.
1.5.2
OPPRESSION OF THE
INDIVIDUAL
The Athenian city-state was
arranged in such a way the inhabitants were classified into different groups
and privileges as well. The system provided some possibilities or avenues from
marginalization. The citizens were grouped into three social-political classes
namely: the freeborn (indigenous citizens) the resident foreigners and the
slave. The members of the first class were the only citizens entitled to take
part in social and political affairs of Athens.
They attended town
meetings: they were eligible to arrange of public offices. They also
participated in public debates and election. This class was a privilege
attained by birth.6 The second group was made up of none indigenous
citizens, that is the residential foreign individuals. They had no part in
political affairs of the city-state. The slaves occupied the third group. The
slaves were used for domestic, military and industrial purpose. The fact that
there were slavery and slaves in Athens points to the fact that some human
elements were marginalized and kept under subjugation and oppression by the
wealthy and free citizens.
Hence, it could be stated
that the political instability, marginalization, intimidation, an oppression of
the individuals in Athens led Aristotle unto the postulation of an ideal state
where he envisaged justice, peace, harmony and fair play would reign supreme.
REFERENCES
1.
K.C. Anyanwu, The
African Experience in the American Market Place. New York: Exposition Press
1983, p.2.
2.
Ibid. p. 4
3.
T. Okeke, African
Philosophy, A Historico-Hermenutic Investigation of the conditions of it
Possibility.USA University
Press 1983, p.65.
4.
Ibid. p.21
5.
E. M. Ome, The
Ideal State in Plato and Nyerere, An Unpublished Doctoral Thesis, to the
Department of Philosophy. University
of Nigeria, Nsukka, 1991, p. 1.
6.
E. M. Ome, Op. Cit., p. 20