40 ARZSTOTLE >.s PoLzmx
allow,-that there must be a common idea of virtue; this Gorgias
the Sophist in the infancy of philosophy is unable to understand,
and in reply can only enumerate separate virtues. The tendency
in the Aristotelian writings to refer 'to Plato, the mention of
Gorgias, and the opposition between the general idea of virtue and :
the particular virtues sufficiently prove that the passage in the
RIeno is intended. i
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Aristotle is contrasting the lot of the slave and of the artisan.
The slave is in one respect better off than the artisan because he
is directed by a master, whereas the artisan has no intelligence but
his own by which to guide his life. He too is a slave without the
advantages of slavery. Thus Socialist writers, like Lassalle and
others, in recent times have contrasted unfavourably the lot of
the modern operative with that of the medizval serf. We may
note in modern times the civilizing influence of domestic service
on the homes and manners of the poor. Many a household
servant in England has received an impress from a master or
mistress, and in Aristotle's language, 'has derived a virtue from
them.' cp. iii. 5. 5 4, T&W 6' dvayKah oi piv id hsi~oup~o~~r~s ~d
Toiaka doShoi, oi 62 KWO~ @4vawooi ral Bjres, ahere, in a similar spirit,
Aristotle contrasts the duties of the artisan, which are rendered to
the community, with the duties of the slave, tThich are rendered to
the individual.
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These strange words may be translated literally: ' But not in so
far as he possesses an art of the master such as would direct the
slave in his particular employment;! i. e. it is not as the teacher of
a craft but as a master that he imparts virtue to his slave.
The slave is relative to the master. His virtues are all received
from him, and cannot be imparted by any chance instructor, Nor
does the master instruct him in any art. But the artisan stands
in no relation to another; he has a separate art (6 13) which he
exercises independently. He is without any ennobling influence
external to himself, whereas the slave is inspired by his master.
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