Book 10 / Chapter 9
Paragraph 9 - The Necessity of Legislation for Moral Improvement
Explanation - Part By Part
"And surely he who wants to make men, whether many or few, better by his care must try to become capable of legislating, if it is through laws that we can become good."
Here, Aristotle is making the case for the importance of lawmaking in shaping people’s character for the better. He suggests that if we believe laws are a means to help people develop virtues and live morally upright lives, then anyone who aspires to improve others—whether it's a group of people or even an individual—must first understand how to create good laws. In essence, good laws serve as a foundation or framework for guiding people toward ethical behavior and fostering a just society. Without the ability to legislate effectively, the effort to make people better would lack structure and intentional direction.
"For to get any one whatever-any one who is put before us-into the right condition is not for the first chance comer; if any one can do it, it is the man who knows, just as in medicine and all other matters which give scope for care and prudence."
Aristotle is emphasizing that helping someone achieve a good or virtuous state—essentially, guiding them to live rightly—is not something that just anyone can do. It requires expertise, knowledge, and skill, much like the work of a doctor or professional in any other field that demands careful consideration and judgment. In simpler terms, shaping someone's moral character and guiding them toward goodness isn’t something left to random chance or untrained individuals—it’s a task for someone who truly understands the "how" and "why" of what makes a life good.