The Basic Connotation And Contemporary Enlightenment Of Aristotle’s Thought Of Rule Of Law

The construction of the rule of law is an important way for the modern state to pursuit the political civilization and is also popular in the contemporary political civilization subject keywords.When it comes to the rule of law problems,Aristotle is one of the most important persons.Aristotle is the first one to define the basic connotation of the rule of law and build up a set of relatively complete theoretical system,making him become the ancestor of the studies of the rule of law.The purpose of this article is to restore the natural shape of Aristotle’s thought of rule of law and extract its theory essence,aiming to serve the current rule of law construction in our country.The breed and produce of Aristotle’s thought of rule of law is not just metaphysical thought.The unique of ancient Greek’s politics,society,history and thoughts laid a solid foundation for the production and formation of Aristotle’s thought of rule of law.The legislation practice in ancient Greece and thinkers represented by Plato’s legal thoughts provide the reality basis and thoughts resources for Aristotle’s rule of law thoughts.Aristotle regarded law as the representative of wisdom and the defenders of justice and also the most effective way to obtain the personal and Polis moral development.Therefore,Aristotle’s rule of law thought itself contains profound theory,including the theory of human nature,the doctrine of the mean perfectionism,bounded rationality and justice theory.These theories and value foundation provide sources of legitimacy and evidence for selection of governance for Aristotle’s thought of rule of law.Aristotle thinks the first step is to develop a good law whose form is on the basis of regime,in turn adapt to and serve the regime.In the content,the law must represent the rationality and justice and help protect people’s freedom and promote the overall city character.Second,Aristotle thought only good laws is not called the rule of law,the law must establish the highest authority in the political and social life.Only the city-state’s rulers do strictly abide by the provisions of the law and according to the spirit of the law to exercise their own discretion and the behavior of ordinary people have to obey the law can the law be universally abide by.The good law thought and the law must be universally abide by become the dualconnotation of Aristotle’s thought of rule of law.Aristotle is excellent in building the rule of law theory.Providing spiritual guidance and theoretical resources for the countries which keen on taking the path of the modern rule of law.In the present period in our country,the construction of rule of law is constantly advancing,but relatively slow pace and there are a lot of resistance from all aspects of society.In the confusion period,Aristotle’s theory of rule of law pointed out the direction for our country’s law construction.First,based on the specific political,economic,cultural,social and other concrete realities of our country to formulate laws is the premise and basic work.Second,the government to obey the law,constructing the government of rule of law is the top priority.Again,cultivate people’s believe in emotion of the rule of law is the key to ensure the law universally abide by permanently.Finally,the country which under the rule of law construction need to pay more attention to the effect of law in governing the country,but also should pay attention to moral attention,combining the rule of law and virtue,promote each other,complement each other,this is very important to reduce the social resistance and the cost of the rule of law.