IN all arts and sciences which being perfect are not conversant with a part, but with one certain genus, it is the business of one art or science to survey what is adapted to each genus; as, for instance, what particular exercise is advantageous to a particular body, and which is the best. For the best exercise is necessarily adapted to the body which is naturally the most beautiful, and the most perfect. It is also the province of one art to consider what that one exercise is which is beneficial to most bodies; for this is the business of the gymnastic art. Again, though some one should not desire to possess an adequate habit and science of things pertaining to gymnastic exercises, nevertheless it is the province of the master in these exercises, to be able to instruct others in them. And in a similar manner we see that this happens to be the case in the medical, ship-building, cloth-making, and in all the other arts. Hence, it is evident, that it is the business of the same science to survey what is the best polity, and which would be of all others most conformable to our wish, if it received no impediment externally; and also to survey what particular polity is adapted to particular persons. For perhaps it is impossible for many persons to be partakers of the best polity. Hence, it is necessary that the legislator, and he who is truly a politician, should not be ignorant of that which is simply the best polity, and that which is the best from the materials of which it consists, viz. which is as good as its subject matter will permit. Farther still, there is a third species of polity, which is from hypothesis. For it is requisite to be able to survey how a given polity would be formed at the beginning, and when formed, after what manner it might be preserved for the longest time. I mean, for instance, if it should happen to a city neither to have the best form of government, nor to be supplied with necessaries, nor to receive every advantage possible, but something inferior to other cities.
Besides all these things, likewise, it is necessary to know what polity is best adapted for all cities; because most of those who have written concerning a polity, though they speak well as to other particulars, yet err with respect to things that are useful. For it is not only necessary to survey the best polity, but also that which may be made the best; and in a similar manner that which is more easily established, and more common to all. Now, however, some indeed only seek after that form of government which possesses the highest dignity, and which requires an abundant supply. But others rather speak of a certain common polity, and subvert those polities that are in existence, praising the Lacedæmonian, or some other form of government. It is necessary, however, that an order of such a kind should be introduced, as from existing circumstances may be easily obeyed, and transferred to the public at large; so that it is no less difficult to correct an established polity, than to form one from the beginning; just as it is as difficult to forget what we have learned, as to learn from the beginning. Hence it is necessary that the politician should be able to give assistance to the existing polities, as well as those we have mentioned, as we have before observed. But this is impossible for him to accomplish who is ignorant how many species of a polity there are. Now, however, some persons fancy that there is only one species of a democracy, and one species of an oligarchy; but this is not true; so that it is necessary not to be ignorant of the differences of polities, how many they are, and in how many ways they are constituted. With this wisdom, likewise, it is requisite to survey the best laws, and those which are adapted to each of the polities. For it is necessary that all laws should be established for polities, and not polities for laws. For a polity, indeed, is an order in cities pertaining to magistrates, after what manner they ought to be distributed, what that is which has the supreme power of the polity, and what the end is of each community. But the laws are separated from those things which render the nature of the polity manifest; for the laws direct the conduct of the magistrates in the execution of their office, and ordain punishments for those that transgress the laws. Hence it is evident, that politicians ought to know the differences and the number of polities, and that they should attend to the establishment of laws. For it is not possible that the same laws should be advantageous to all oligarchies, or all democracies, since there are many species of these, and not one democracy, or one oligarchy only.
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