SINCE it is now evident of what parts a city is composed, it will be necessary to treat first of family government, for every city is made up of families, and every family [1253b] has again its separate parts of which it is composed. When a family is complete, it consists of freemen and slaves; but as in every subject we should begin with examining into the smallest parts of which it consists, and as the first and smallest parts of a family are the master and slave, the husband and wife, the father and child, let us first inquire into these three, what each of them may be, and what they ought to be; that is to say, the herile, the nuptial, and the paternal. Let these then be considered as the three distinct parts of a family: some think that the providing what is necessary for the family is something different from the government of it, others that this is the greatest part of it; it shall be considered separately; but we will first speak of a master and a slave, that we may both understand the nature of those things which are absolutely necessary, and also try if we can learn anything better on this subject than what is already known. Some persons have thought that the power of the master over his slave originates from his superior knowledge, and that this knowledge is the same in the master, the magistrate, and the king, as we have already said; but others think that herile government is contrary to nature, and that it is the law which makes one man a slave and another free, but that in nature there is no difference; for which reason that power cannot be founded in justice, but in force.
Now that the parts of a city are clear, we must first examine household government. Every city is made up of households, and every household [1253b] has its own parts. A complete household consists of free people and slaves. But in every subject, we should begin by examining its smallest parts. The first and smallest parts of a household are master and slave, husband and wife, and father and child. Let us first examine these three relationships, asking what each is and what each ought to be. These are the relationships of master to slave, husband to wife, and father to child. Let us consider them the three distinct parts of a household. Some think that supplying a household’s needs is different from governing the household. Others think that supplying those needs is the largest part of household government. We will consider that question separately. But first we will discuss master and slave, so we can understand the nature of these essential elements. We will also try to learn whether we can improve on what is already known about the subject. Some have thought that a master’s power over his slave comes from the master’s superior knowledge. They hold that this knowledge is the same in a master, a magistrate, and a king, as we have already said. But others think that a master’s rule over slaves is contrary to nature. They hold that law makes one person a slave and another free, but that by nature there is no difference. For that reason, they argue, a master’s power cannot rest on justice, but only on force.