At a time when most people view politicians with disdain, Aristotle's argument that a man who has achieved the highest good is identical with the man who has participated fully in the life of the polis, which includes ruling and being ruled in turn, sounds rather strange. For him, politics is so essential to man that he considers a man outside the political community as either a beast or a god.
As a political science graduate of the national university, Aristotle's views give me hope that there is redemption for politics. Not only can public service be a force for good, it is actually the highest good. I continue to believe that I, and people of my generation, have a duty to enter politics and reform society. Politics is simply too important to be left in the hands of corrupt and incompetent politicians. As yet, however, I do not know how to translate this sense of duty into action.
As Aristotle's teacher said, there will be no justice in this polity until philosophers become kings.
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