Contrary to most others, I like what Aristotle has to say about slavery. Don’t get me wrong, I do NOT like slavery, nor do I believe that it is correct and good. I don’t agree with him concerning the right to own slaves, nor that men were born to become slaves to other men, in the physical sense. However, I do believe in the idea of slavery and I believe that we can bring it upon ourselves.
Aristotle points out the fact that human beings are the only animals, which by nature have the ability to reason. We are capable of ruling both our soul and our body. We are not governed only by passions, as is the rest of the animal kingdom. Therefore, it is inherent to our constitution to master the soul and the body and thus choose beauty and freedom and not the depraved condition of slavery.
Even with this ability, is it still possible to become a slave? Do some men still choose slavery over freedom? I believe it is and that men do! As human beings, we enslave ourselves through idleness and this becomes apparent in view to our own physical, mental, and spiritual being, as well as through our relationship with others
and in the manner that we are governed.
According to Aristotle, our body and soul is established through nature, habits, and education. Each of us is born with certain talents, abilities, and inclinations. As we begin to age, we develop habits, which will train those innate qualities into strengths or weaknesses. Therefore, it is vitally important that we receive proper conditioning, which will direct and inspire us in virtuous living. For it is only through seeking what is truly noble and worthy that we can become the master of our soul and take command over the physical appetites of our body. The Apostle Paul encourages us to think on virtuous things (Philippians 4:8) and to strive for self-mastery: being temperate in all things (1 Corinthians 9:25). Peter, Christ’s chief apostle, tells us that we are called to virtue that we might be partakers of divine nature and escape worldly lust. He establishes the pattern for us to follow in overcoming corruption. We are told to be diligent and have faith; add to that faith virtue, which leads to knowledge, temperance, patience, and ultimately to Godliness (2 Peter 1: 3-5). Without virtue, our soul is in jeopardy and our body in peril of destruction, thus becoming a slave to our unbridled passions.
“For he is a slave by nature who is capable of belonging to another – which is also why he belongs to another – and who participates in reason only to the extent of perceiving it, but does not have it.” By neglecting the training of our talents, education, and spirit we set ourselves up to becoming the slaves of other men. Aristotle also said, “Life as a whole is divided into occupation and leisure and war and peace. There must be the same choice as in the case of the parts of the soul and their actions: war must be for the sake of peace, occupation for the sake of leisure, necessary and useful things for the sake of noble things.” So, the question for us is: “How do we use our leisure time?”
I believe that we are accountable to God for the use of our time. He has blessed us with the ability to accomplish eminent deeds in life and He expects us to prepare for the missions for which He will call us to perform. In the Doctrine and Covenants section 88, verses 76-80, it states: “I give unto you a commandment that ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time forth. And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom. Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand; Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms – That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you.”
We are commanded by God to seek first His kingdom, in essence to build and strengthen our spirits, then to be diligent in studying and understanding all of the things of this earth. In putting forth that effort, He will bless us and enlighten us so that we will be prepared to go forth and make a difference in the world. As Aristotle would say, we study war so that we may have peace, and we work in an occupation so that we have leisure. God would have us use that leisure time to gain additional knowledge and understanding. As we do so, we put ourselves in a proactive position where we are not subject to the will of other men.
According to Aristotle, “There is no leisure in slaves, and those who are incapable of facing danger in a courageous spirit are slaves of whoever comes along to attack them.” Therefore, I believe it is possible to become slaves of other men as well as to our own government. By allowing men and women who have not paid the price to master themselves to become our ruling body, we inadvertently shrink from sovereignty. We must fight against non-virtuous leaders, against men and women who would legislate our rights away, and those who will strip our freedom for the fabrication of personal power. Revolutions are not always brought about through massive battles, but frequently by small acts. Minor changes can add up to monumental deficits in our liberty. When we, as a people, do not pay attention and participate in the policy of our country, then we are capable of loosing our freedom and becoming slaves within our own land.
Are men born to be slaves? Absolutely not! Men are born for greatness! Men are created in the image of God. We have divine power within us! However, we fall into slavery when we are not continually seeking the path of virtue and using our time, talents, and abilities to nurture good habits and strength of character.
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