From what current scholars can gather, Aristotle has complex views on slavery that at points seem downright nonsensical and contradictory. It comes to no surprise that still today people struggle to correctly decipher and translate what the meaning is behind Aristotle’s teachings. Although there seems to be somewhat of a general consensus on Aristotle’s views, they are far from unanimous. In his article Natural Right and the Problem of Aristotle's Defense of Slaver, Darrell Dobbs takes and looks to defend a thesis which is different than what is considered to be the leading opinion. According to Dobbs, “Aristotle's teleology implies that the natural slave, generally speaking, is made not born.” In the article he looks to defend this statement
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As Dobbs quickly points out and basis the bulk of his argument around, too often people just to the conclusion that Aristotle means that a natural slave is completely unable to deliberate, considering Aristotle never makes such a statement. Aristotle merely states that a natural slave “does not possess wholly”. Going by Aristotle’s definition, deliberation consists of two integral parts; expediency and a concern for the noble and beautiful. A concern for he noble and beautiful is addressed later throughout the article as the Greek word kalon, as an exact English translation does not exist. Dobbs proceeds after introducing kalon, to further elaborate on the word by providing examples and context to allow the reader to have a better understanding of the cocept. Dobbs’s opinion on why people misinterpret Aristotle’s views on natural slavery comes down to the fact that they simply take deliberation as expediency and ignore the vital kalon. It is very well possible that a person can search for a way to meet one’s goal without being introduced to truly understanding what a society deems noble and beautiful. If one is not exposed to a certain society, they will never be exposed to the standards of beauty that are kept, and will always lack kalon, and in a round about way will always lack the ability to deliberate. With this being said, it is somewhat clearer to see why Dobbs believes that Aristotle’s true belief on natural slavery is that slaves are not born, but are made by
As Dobbs quickly points out and basis the bulk of his argument around, too often people just to the conclusion that Aristotle means that a natural slave is completely unable to deliberate, considering Aristotle never makes such a statement. Aristotle merely states that a natural slave “does not possess wholly”. Going by Aristotle’s definition, deliberation consists of two integral parts; expediency and a concern for the noble and beautiful. A concern for he noble and beautiful is addressed later throughout the article as the Greek word kalon, as an exact English translation does not exist. Dobbs proceeds after introducing kalon, to further elaborate on the word by providing examples and context to allow the reader to have a better understanding of the cocept. Dobbs’s opinion on why people misinterpret Aristotle’s views on natural slavery comes down to the fact that they simply take deliberation as expediency and ignore the vital kalon. It is very well possible that a person can search for a way to meet one’s goal without being introduced to truly understanding what a society deems noble and beautiful. If one is not exposed to a certain society, they will never be exposed to the standards of beauty that are kept, and will always lack kalon, and in a round about way will always lack the ability to deliberate. With this being said, it is somewhat clearer to see why Dobbs believes that Aristotle’s true belief on natural slavery is that slaves are not born, but are made by