A number of historians and philosophers have attempted to justify slavery throughout history. Many did so purely to further their own interests, to continue a barbarous trade, while others attempted to justify slavery on a higher moral basis.
One of the first philosophers to think that slavery was natural and that there were two types of humans – slaves and non-slaves – was Aristotle.
He believes that some people are born as slaves and should remain slaves throughout their lives, while others were born to rule them, use them as they desire, and treat them as property.
The ‘natural slaves’, he said, were slaves because their souls were incomplete – they lacked certain qualities, including the ability to think properly, and so needed a master to direct them.
As Aristotle argued, those born natural slaves were fortunate to have their masters, as without them, they would not have been able to manage their lives. Similarly, slaves did not lack ‘virtue’, but only enough to carry out their duties. In his view, slaves are not entirely incapable of thinking; they only require a minimal amount of rational ability to understand and perform their duties. However, that ‘virtue’ sufficed for them to be treated as human beings.
Although such individuals are capable of understanding the reasoning of others, they are unable to rationally deliberate in their entirety. Aristotle believed such a person would be a natural slave, meaning they could not rationally plan their lives. Such individuals would require rational leaders to guide them.
Aristotle argues that owning such people would be just since this authority should be distributed to those most capable of exercising it correctly. According to Aristotle, slavery is beneficial to individuals who cannot exercise rational forethought because otherwise they would make poor choices.
It does not sit well with me at all…
The idea that these so-called ‘inferior’ humans should be used by someone or a group of people who are smarter and/or stronger makes me sick.
Even though we do this all the time, it cannot be said that it does not constitute the basis of society. Herds and pack animals always use their weak as tools. They are the first to die, the first to be eaten, the first to be abandoned, and the first to be used as pawns.
There is no justification in a world where you believe in a good God.
