@article{30b19ddb56a04c4bb8b20d5eaef7b795,
title = "Scientific classification and essentialism in the aristotelian typology of constitutions",
abstract = "This article examines Aristotle{\textquoteright}s ideas of scientific classification in his typology of constitutions. In particular, it considers how his theory of biological classification is used in the Politics and how his notion of scientific definition plays a role in developing his political theory. A key idea behind his typology is that different combinations of parts determine different characteristics of their wholes. Within this framework, Aristotle uses a Platonic idea that the influential part of a state determines the nature of a constitution. The article thus illuminates Aristotle{\textquoteright}s scientific background for considering how to arrange constitutional elements for good governance.",
keywords = "Aristotle, Essentialism, Scientific classification, Taxonomy, Typology",
author = "Kazutaka Inamura",
note = "Funding Information: 11–6–1 Nishi-waseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169–8050, Japan, School of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University. Email:kinamura@weseda.jp 2 An earlier version of this article was read in the Joint Session of the Aristotelian Society and the Mind Association at Oxford in July 2018. I wish to thank Melissa Lane and participants in the session for making valuable comments. I am also grateful to Tomohiko Kondo, Shogo Takahashi and Ryo Uehara who commented when I gave this paper in a seminar at Waseda University in March 2018. I owe a deep debt of gratitude to the Faculty of Education, Hirosaki University, for allowing me to do research at Oxford. Finally, I really appreciate the research group of political theory at Waseda University for their support and friendship. My research was financially supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (Overseas Research Fellowships, Grant in Aid for Young Scientists (B) (Grant Number: 16K16680) for the research of Section IV and Grant in Aid for Scientific Research (B) (Grant Number:17H02257) for the research of Sections I and II). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019, Imprint Academic. All rights reserved.",
year = "2019",
language = "English",
volume = "40",
pages = "196--218",
journal = "History of Political Thought",
issn = "0143-781X",
publisher = "Imprint Academic",
number = "2",
}
