The foundations of the rule of law in the legal doctrine of Aristotle

It is argued that the legacy of Aristotle covers a wide range of issues related to man, society, state, law, etc. It reflects the thinker’s opinion that the state arises from nature, as people seek cooperation and are parts of a single whole. He also emphasized that the establishment of order through laws helps people to realize themselves. It is emphasized that Aristotle defined the concepts of law, right, justice and fairness. He viewed the state as an entity created for the happiness of its citizens. At the same time, the philosopher emphasized that the state cannot be happy if the interests of only a separate part of the population are taken into account. It is noted that Aristotle emphasized the importance of ensuring both material and spiritual well-being of a person for the establishment of a happy state. The thinker interpreted the state system as the order of the state associated with state power, especially with the supreme power, which was considered in the context of the system of government. According to his theory, democratic states were characterized by the power of the people, while oligarchies were characterized by the power of individuals. The author emphasizes the philosopher’s position that justice and knowledge are the key to creating a virtuous state that will allow people to live happily. The author classifies Aristotle’s judgments on the right and wrong forms of government, noting that forms of government aimed at general happiness through the principles of justice are right, while those where power serves personal gain or a group of people are wrong. It is noted that the philosopher defined the best type of state as one that combines moderation and an even distribution of power, which avoids a sharp gap between rich and poor. It is emphasized that Aristotle emphasized the importance of the rule of law, he considered the benefits of law as a result of the spiritual values on which it was determined. Aristotle studied the issues of laws and government, determining that laws should be based on justice. The article reflects the philosopher’s thoughts on law as a harmonization of the interests of the State and harmonization of laws to achieve the common good of citizens. At the same time, his statement that the law, which provides for the power of the majority, is not correct, and the basic principle of justice should be that everyone is equal and has the same rights and obligations is cited. It is noted that Aristotle considers justice to be the basic virtue in society and believes that it should be reflected in laws regulating people’s lives.