Date: Sat, 20 Sep 1997 22:50:30 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Chris M. Sciabarra" <sciabrrc-AT-is2.NYU.EDU>
Subject: Re: M-TH: MARX, HEGEL, & MASTER-SLAVE DIALECTIC


Interestingly, the master-slave dialectic is something that goes waaay
back; we find roots of the relational dynamic in the writings of Aristotle
(Categories).   Aristotle, despite his defense of certain forms of
slavery, writes that master and slave are "correlatives":
	. . . for the slave is called slave of a master and the master is
called master of a slave. . . . For example, if a slave is spoken of in
relation to a master, then, when everything accidental to a master is
stripped off -- like being a biped, capable of knowledge, a man -- and
there is left only being a master, a slave will always be spoken of in
relation to that.  For a slave is called slave of a master."  

	For Aristotle, we cannot focus on one element (the master OR the
slave) at the expense of the other.  Neither can be isolated from its
corresponding correlative, for each gains meaning through the connection.
We must take both together as indissoluble in their relation.

				- Chris -

==========================================Chris Matthew Sciabarra, Visiting Scholar
Faculty of Arts and Science
New York University Department of Politics
715 Broadway
New York, New York  10003-6806
Email:      sciabrrc-AT-is2.nyu.edu
Website:    http://pages.nyu.edu/~sciabrrc
==========================================



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