THOUGH PLATO WAS THE FIRST to elaborate a Socratic philosophy of politics, his student Aristotle (384 – 322 BCE) was the first to articulate a practically-oriented political science, meant to be of use to legislators, statesmen, and citizens. Like his teachers, Aristotle did much to promote philosophy as an ally to the city and a guide for political action, thereby not only encouraging toleration of philosophy but establishing it as a crucial basis of authority throughout the Western world. Yet despite the importance of reason or speech in Aristotle’s political teaching, he did not advance any theory or argument for freedom of speech. Moreover, he argued that the city (or the political community) has supreme authority over all things, implying that there is no absolute limit to political authority that might carve out any universal “rights,” such as the right to free speech.
ፍትህ ለሁሉም / Justice for All